After two failed attempts to play Athletic Newham at the Terence MacMillan Stadium last season – both times the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and was eventually not played but recorded as a 0-0 draw – Romford have another shot at playing The Kings at that venue tomorrow night.

Rain at the Terry Mac last season.

Last season’s postponements mean that all three fixtures between the teams have been Romford home games, and so far, Boro have not won one of them. Last season, the sides’ first ever meeting ended in a 2-2 draw in an Essex Senior League game played at Barking. Praise Ogbebor and Charlie Cox scored for Boro, while Newham’s goals were scored by Daniel Izekor and Joel Appiah, who coincidentally both scored against Boro for Ilford recently.

Both of this season’s games between Romford and Newham have ended in Newham victories. In an Essex Senior Cup tie played at Barking in October, the away side ran out 5-1 winners. Three of Newham’s goals were scored by Richard Kone, who has since moved on to play in the Football League with Wycombe Wanderers; Boro’s goal was a consolation effort from Bruno Gomes. Then, in the Essex Senior League fixture played at Rookery Hill, Charlie Morris scored for Boro in a 2-1 defeat in which Daniel Izekor scored twice for the visitors.

Last Season:

Athletic Newham finished sixth in the Essex Senior League last season and had the league’s leading scorer as Richard Kone netted 40 times. Like Boro, Athletic Newham found themselves pitted against Jersey Bulls in the FA Vase and they fared little better, being beaten 5-1 in St Helier.

This Season:

Proving what a competitive league the Essex Senior League has been this season, Athletic Newham have had some up and down results. They started the season with a 3-0 win at Tilbury, but promptly lost 4-1 at West Essex in their second outing. Newham are currently 12th in the table with 48 points from 34 games. Their recent form has seen them win just once in their last six games in which a 3-1 win over Sporting Bengal United was followed by four defeats; most recently they drew 1-1 at home to White Ensign.

Newham’s run in the Vase last season resulted in the being exempt until the First Round, in which they beat Staplehurst Monarchs 5-0. They then won on penalties at Wembley but went out 2-0 at home in the Third Round to Erith Town. In the FA Cup they were knocked out in the Preliminary Round by Westfield having beaten Tooting & Mitcham United in an Extra-Preliminary Round replay.

There was a surprise earlier in the season when the Athletic Newham management team of Chris Davis and Ray Bartlett departed for Ilford with a number of players following them with Francesco Zabotti taking over as manager. At the same time, Richard Kone left to sign for Wycombe Wanderers.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

The club play at the Terence McMillan Stadium. The stadium has one stand with seats for 192 spectators and is named after the first Mayor of Newham. The full address of the ground is 281 Prince Regent Lane, E13 8SD, and it is easily accessible by road, being just off the A13 at the Stratford/Plaistow exit for the A112, and by public transport, with Plaistow (District Line) and Prince Regent (DLR) stations within easy reach. Buses 473 and 376 stop close to the ground.

Being attached to the Newham Leisure Centre, there is ample parking onsite.

This week’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Last night our fellow FA Vase Finalists Great Wakering Rovers entertained Ilford whose recent form is much improved. The game ended with Great Wakering winning 1-0 to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Play-Offs.

Tuesday 16th April:
Saffron Walden Town v Tilbury
West Essex v Sporting Bengal United
Stanway Rovers v FC Clacton (Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

Wednesday 17th April:
Athletic Newham v Romford
Woodford Town v Great Wakering Rovers

Thursday 18th April:
Stanway Rovers v Takeley