Ramsgate (1) 1 - 2 (0) Romford

It was a slow start to the game and 17 minutes before either team managed a shot on goal, when a Ramsgate effort flew harmlessly over the crossbar. However, immediately after the ref missed an obvious Ramsgate foul in midfield. This allowed them to play a through ball that put one of their strikers clear on goal. Joe Oates tried to get back goalside but only managed to pull him down and the penalty was awarded. Schulz stepped up to the spot and gave Michael Gooch no chance.
Another Ramsgate shot sailed over the crossbar before Boro finally managed their first shot on 25 minutes by Jayden Brook-Fraser after a clever pass from Nick Reynolds. For the rest of the first half Romford's defence marshalled by Jack Barry and Lewis Payne continued to look very solid and were only really troubled once more when a 30 yard shot from Schulz nearly caught out Michael Gooch. At the other end Boro were finding it hard to break out of midfield and give sufficient support to Nick Reynolds but some corners were won with good attacks up the flanks.

A slight change of formation seemed to bring a far better perfomance from Boro in the second half. Ramsgate had a couple of good chances early on but the Romford midfield trio of James Ishmail, Michael Summat and Andy Oxby were starting to take command. The 63rd and 65th minutes saw two well struck shots from Summat, the first going just wide and the second forcing a diving save from the Ramsgate keeper with nobody managing to get to the rebound.
Finally, in the 74th minute a long pass from Summat put Lewis Francis through and he made no mistake with a low shot past the keeper for the equaliser. Six minutes later Romford took the lead when Ishmail picked up a loose ball in midfield and found Oxby in space on the left. Spotting the keeper slightly off his line he blasted a shot into the far corner.
Ramsgate tried to come back towards the end and brought two excellent saves from Elliot Anderson, tipping over a powerful shot from distance and getting down low to stop a free kick.

ROMFORD Gooch (Anderson), Ottley, Oates (Salmon), J Barry (Toms), Payne, Ishmail, A Oxby, Summat, Reynolds, Brook-Fraser (Francis), Chambers (Hilton).

ATTENDANCE 69