Romford 1 (0) v (1) 1 AFC Hornchurch – Saturday July 27th - Attendance 91.

Hornchurch were probably slightly more efficient in their play throughout although Romford proved to be doughy opponents.

It was the Urchins who took the lead, after just seven minutes of play, from a free kick just outside the home penalty. George Purcell found a gap through the home defensive wall with a low curling left foot shot that crept just inside Aaron Ormond’s right hand post.

There were no further goals before the break but Boro got a deserved equaliser ten minutes into the second half when they broke down the left and Kurt Smith’s first time cross was handled just inside the visitors’ area.

It was Joe Oates who was delegated the task of taking the resulting spot kick and he efficiently slotted it home left footed into the left hand corner of the visiting keeper’s net.

As the match drew on there were a number of injuries which interrupted play and quite a few substitutions too for both sides but nothing that happened made any difference to the existing score which was still one goal each at the final whistle. .

Romford squad: Aaron Ormond (Atu Ngoy 46), Leandro Amaro, George Woodward,(Charlie Newson 85), James Ishmail, Paul Clayton, Alex Afful (David Hornsby 60), Joe Oates, Michael Sammut (Josh Barzelo (60), Lewis Francis, (Aime Blessing 85), Tom Richardson (Tim Gbadeyan 85), Kurt Smith..

Considering that Romford have a growing list of first team squad walking injured this was a very good performance against their visitors who will be playing in the Ryman Premier next season having been relegated from the Conference South at the end of the last one. It would be unfair to pick out anyone who played for the host team on the afternoon as they all came on the pitch and played their part on a hot Summer’s afternoon.
It’s one down and two more to go for the Boro on the pre season friendlies list with both of them being away fixtures. This coming Tuesday evening we play what has become an annual commemoration game versus Barking at Mayesbrook Park at 7.45pm and on Saturday visit Spartan South Midlands Premier Division club Colney Heath with a 3pm kick off. Then subject to any last minute PSF arrangements we will be playing our first Ryman North league game of the season away at Needham Market on Saturday August 10th.