Georgiou Double Puts Boro Through

Halstead Town (0) 1, Romford (2) 4

FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round – Saturday 5th August 2023

Harrison Georgiou scored twice to help Boro through this Extra-Preliminary Round tie and set up a home game against Southern League Central Division side Welwyn Garden City in the next round.

There were just two minutes gone when Georgiou netted his first Boro goal. Henry Hart’s ball set Jayden Silcott-Brown free on the right flank, and his low cross presented Georgiou with an inviting chance from eight yards, which he converted confidently.

Both sides had chances as the half progressed but it was remarkable that it took until the last minute of the first period before one found the net. That came when Michael Turner was the first to react after Scott Doe’s header from Kris Newby’s header was parried by Halstead keeper Jack Cherry, only for Doe’s defensive partner to score from close range.

Scott Doe (far right) holds his head as Cherry parries his header, but Michael Turner (number 5, partly obscured) sweeps the ball in for Boro’s second. Still picture from a video by John Parish

The corner that led to that goal stemmed from Boro breaking upfield after Junior Luke had made a crucial goal-line clearance when Sonny Dotton’s effort had beaten Jake Anderson.

Between the goals it was Romford who fashioned more chances. Cherry claimed a loose ball in the Halstead penalty area after a bout of pinball in which Hassan Nalbant came closest to getting an effort on target after seven minutes, and after twelve minutes the Halstead keeper had to make a diving save to push away Kris Newby’s fiercely struck free-kick.

Two Boro chances flew over the bar when after sixteen minutes Michael Turner’s astute pass to the right was collected by Jayden Silcott-Brown and his low cross was volleyed over the bar by Finlay Dorrell, and then Hassan Nalbant shot over from another Silcott-Brown pass.

Boro didn’t have it all their own way however. After 26 minutes a corner from the right was met by Scott Doe who inadvertently headed against his own post. Jake Anderson pushed the ball away and a Halstead forward lashed the ball into the net only for the strike to be ruled out for a foul on Henry Hart. Doe was booked for his pains having remonstrated with the officials.

Doe then conceded possession with a loose pass, but redeemed himself with a good block after 35 minutes, and after 40 minutes Jake Anderson made a good low save to his left with Junior Luke completing the clearance after the ball had run loose.

Harrison Georgiou picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away after Boro had conceded a free-kick, but the half ended happily with Turner’s goal.

Anderson was forced to tip a dangerous looking cross over the bar as the second half opened, but even more so than had been the case in the first half, both sides saw promising attacks curtailed by an offside flag. Halstead carved out an opening after 62 minutes when Romford were only able to partially clear a corner, but the shot went harmlessly over the bar.

Romford’s third goal after 63 minutes ended Halstead’s resistance. Kris Newby swung the ball in from the right and after Hassan Nalbant had diverted the ball against a post, the loose ball was picked up by Harrison Georgiou and his shot found the net. Halstead keeper and captain Jack Cherry found his way into the referee’s notebook for comments he made expressing is displeasure.

Goal of the day arrived in the 69th minute. Newby was again the provider as his crossfield ball found Finlay Dorrell who cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net from more than 25 yards.

Halstead came close to a consolation when Joel Older had a shot blocked that ran out for a corner and from the flag kick, Halstead had another goalbound effort blocked. The home side deprived Jake Anderson of a clean sheet after 77 minutes. Boro were caught out by a quickly taken free-kick and the home side drew a foul in the penalty area resulting in a spot kick which Kane Gilbert converted.

There was still time for Seedorf Mendes to collect a yellow card as he challenged for a long ball played forward by Anderson with the home supporters baying for a card of a different colour, and in the last minute sub Jordan Sarfo’s low cross from the right found Bruno Gomes in front of a virtually open goal but the opportunity went begging as he could only divert the ball wide of the post.

Boro boss Dan Spinks might have told the Romford Recorder that the league is a greater priority than the FA Cup this season, but an away win, a chunk of cash from the competition prize fund and a home tie against Step 4 opposition are to be relished.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Henry Hart, Junior Luke, Kris Newby, Michael Turner, Scott Doe, Jayden Silcott-Brown (Jordan Sarfo, 59m), Lee Hursit, Hassan Nalbant (Bruno Gomes, 66m), Harrison Georgiou (Seedorf Mendes, 75), Finlay Dorrell. Unused subs: Jamie Hursit, Jacob Wiggins, Sonny Shilling, Charlie Morris.