ROB Hodgson says Hullbridge Sports couldn’t have been handed a tougher start to the Essex Senior League season.

Sports host Waltham Forest tomorrow, before welcoming ambitious Southend Manor to Lower Road on Tuesday.

An FA Cup game against Ipswich Wanderers follows that, the same side who knocked Canvey Island out of the competition in 2015.

And manager Hodgson says it is a hard start to term, but that he is looking forward to the challenge after his side improved throughout pre-season.

“The league hasn’t been very kind and we have two hard games straight away,” he said.

“Manor have been going very well in the last year or so and Waltham Forest is a difficult opener but we are excited.

“But I am looking forward to it and we have to play everyone at some point.

“The boys are in good spirits and are looking forward to tomorrow.

“We started slowly in pre-season. We were well beaten by Bowers & Pitsea (6-0), AFC Hornchurch (5-0) and Grays Athletic (3-0) but have come a long way since then.

“We have been playing Isthmian League sides and these are good tests. We have got some more positive results recently.”

Hodgson added that, while Basildon United, Southend Manor and Great Wakering Rovers all harbor ambitions of promotions, he is looking for his side to take the season one game at a time.

“I am not thinking too much about what I want to do this year,” he said.

“In the first year I was here I said something similar that but I want to play it out now.

“It would be nice to be up there by Christmas but it is a long term project.”