It might be an exaggeration to say that Romford’s goose was cooked as early as the sixth minute - by which time Boro had gone a goal down and had a man sent off - but the bird had been plucked and trussed ready for the oven even at that stage.

The visitors started with a clear intention to put Boro under early pressure, and in just the fourth minute they went ahead from Dernell Wynter’s penalty kick after Scott Doe had been penalised for a push on Welwyn’s Bradley Wadkind. Wadkind probably ended the afternoon with carpet burns, so often did he tumble to the deck. Moments later Bruno Gomes had Welwyn’s Ryan Doherty climbing all over him in a challenge that was a more clear cut offence than Doe’s but for which nothing was given.

By this stage Boro had been reduced to ten men when Darren Phillips’s aerial challenge with a Welwyn player was deemed violent conduct; Dan Spinks was shown a yellow card for expressing his frustration. It might have got worse for Boro as Scott Doe’s decision to leave a long, high clearance gave Wynter a clear sight of goal but his effort went wide.

Jake Anderson made a fine save after 12 minutes, turning Wadkind’s shot against a post on one of the occasions the Welwyn forward stayed upright, but not to be outdone, Bailey Stevenson then threw himself dramatically to the floor after an innocuous tackle in midfield.

Romford sacrificed Harrison Georgiou for Jamie Hursit to make up the numbers at the back, and Michael Turner then saw his header from Lee Hursit’s free-kick hacked away as Boro began to get back into the game. Welwyn were still creating chances however, and after 27 minutes Stevenson headed Zak Brown’s cross just wide.

Anderson had to make two low saves to keep Boro in the game, and then Welwyn had two players booked in quick succession as Josh Bryant was cautioned for kicking the ball away, and James Kaloczi was yellow carded for a foul on Lee Hursit.

Michael Turner volleyed a cross over after 40 minutes, and after 43 minutes Anderson saved as Wynter broke clear. At the other end Charlie Morris had a shot saved by Charlie Crowley, who was so far advanced that there was some speculation as to whether he had strayed outside his penalty area, but it was Welwyn who scored again, Stevenson, clean through, beat Anderson with a low shot.

There was a lifeline for Boro a minute into the six added at the end of the half. Junior Luke’s long throw found Morris, whose overhead kick was handled. Morris himself took the spot kick, sending Crowley the wrong way.

The first significant action of the second half was a booking for Welwyn’s James Mulley whose foul on Jayden Silcott-Brown was the last of three perpetrated on the Boro forward in the same passage of play. Scott Doe picked up a yellow card for questioning an absent offside decision as Wadkind got clear and hit a post with a low shot, while Boro sub Sonny Shilling also picked up a caution for apparently not replacing a lost shin pad before playing on.

Jayden Silcott-Brown became the third Boro player booked when he protested the lack of a free-kick in his favour as he was dispossessed and Welwyn sub Lucas Jordan, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, ran through to score his side’s third after 83 minutes.

Boro continued to push forward despite their numerical disadvantage and Jacob Wiggins had a free-kick parried by Crowley after 85 minutes, while in the fifth of six minutes added time, Silcott-Brown’s good run set up Sonny Shilling for a tame shot that did not trouble Crowley.

A premature end to Boro’s FA Cup campaign, affording the opportunity to concentrate on the league, as the saying goes.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Darren Phillips, Junior Luke, Lee Hursit (Sonny Shilling, 71m), Michael Turner, Scott Doe, Jayden Silcott-Brown, Seedorf Mendes, Bruno Gomes, Harrison Georgiou (Jamie Hursit, 15m), Charlie Morris (Jacob Wiggins, 71m). Subs not used: Kris Newby, Jordan Sarfo, Hassan Nalbant, Wayne Baker.

All pictures by Alan Blackholly