After winning 12 games last season in the Middlesex County Division Two, the Tivoli Road club will eye even more this term

Garfield Struthers believes 13 Middlesex County Division Two wins this season will be enough to send Hornsey up.

The Tivoli Road club missed out on promotion by just four points in 2018 with Harrow St Marys beating them to second and Stanmore claiming the league championship.

Hornsey won 12 matches, the same amount as Harrow St Marys, but it still wasn't enough and yet spirits remain high at one of London's oldest clubs ahead of the new term.

Captain Struthers said: "It was a good season for us 2018. We went through our history and it is the first time we have won this amount of games in a season, so to not go up was hard to take.

"This year we know what we have to do. I think 13 wins should do it for us and that's the aim."

Although Hornsey have a clear target in mind, wicket-keeper Struthers expects the league to be more competitive in 2019.

Brentham and Crouch End were involved in an exciting title race in Division Three and both will not be around to merely make up the numbers.

Joining them in the second flight is Brondesbury and Highgate, who after dropping down from life in the Premier Division, will be eager to get back there.

It should make for a tense and exciting title race with a number of clubs fancying their chances of promotion, but Hornsey are confident their squad depth will be the difference come September.

Struthers, who coaches as well, added: "We have a few new additions, but I think the league might be a little bit stronger this year compared to last year

"I found myself and a couple of opposition at the top found it easier than usual, but we have had Brentham come up and Crouch End.

"Highgate have come down and Brondesbury have come down as well, so it should be interesting.

"Going forward I think for ourselves, it is about doing similar to what we did last year, but converting more wins and availability will be key again.

"We have a young side and some are at university, so the quicker we get them back the stronger we will be and that will help massively in terms of getting good results."

Hornsey won three out of four games at the start of last season and another promising first month will increase their chances of a top-two finish.