Romford 3 (1) v 0 (0) Tower Hamlets – Tuesday 23rd July

Tower Hamlets FC have just changed their name from Bethnal Green United and ply their trade in the Essex Senior League. It was a hard competitive game in which both sides also had to compete with an unyielding pitch and a gusty, almost end to end, wind.

Tower Hamlets tried to take as much advantage of the wind at their backs in the first half but despite a number of attacks down both flanks it was Romford who went into the half time break with a goal by Alex Afful who converted a low cross from the left by Jeffery Campbell on 30 minutes..

As the second half progressed Boro’s share of the action increased with the conditions more in their favour and they increased their lead on 60 minutes when Kurt Smith bundled home a Lewis Francis corner from the right after the ball was headed back into the goalmouth at the far post by Tom Richardson.

The visitors for their part rang the changes with their substitutes and made a number of dangerous incursions around and into the home penalty area but failed to get on to the score sheet with the opportunities that they had either being off target, straight at Boro keeper Atu Ngoy or cleared off their feet by the home defence.

On 77 minutes Richardson was pulled down while marauding into the visitors’ penalty area but Smith’s spot kick was well saved down to his left by the Green Army keeper.

Some five minutes later Richardson himself got on the score sheet and completed his team’s and the game’s scoring when he forced home at the far post from a right wing cross.

Romford squad: Atu Ngoy, Charlie Newson, Leandro Amaro, Paul Clayton, James Ishmail, Josh Barzelo (Abs Seymour 70), Joe Oates, Alex Afful, Jeffery Campbell (Tom Richardson 50), Kurt Smith, Ryan Imbert (Lewis Francis 20),

There were some good things and bad things to come out of this latest pre season friendly. On the good side Charlie Newson from our under 18s continued to impress on his latest appearance at left back and newcomer Josh Barzelo worked tirelessly and efficiently in centre mid field. On the downside Ryan Imbert was added to the growing list of Boro players who are carrying an injury when he went down heavily on his ankle after just twenty minutes and had to hobble off for treatment.

Our pre season action continues this Thursday when we welcome Ryman Premier side East Thurrock United to Newbury Park at 7 pm and on Saturday we have our one and only pre season fixture at Ship Lane when we play host to our near neighbours AFC Hornchurch with a 3pm kick off.