Boro Clinch Hat-Trick Of Cup Wins

Romford (0) 1, Tilbury (0) 0 – Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy 1st Round - Tuesday 13th February 2024

Hassan Nalbant’s 19th goal of the season earned Boro a third cup win in consecutive matches inside a fortnight to set up a trip to FC Clacton in the 2nd Round of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy.

With both teams having bigger fish to fry – Boro in the FA Vase and Tilbury at the top of the Essex Senior League – it was perhaps unsurprising that this Pancake Day fixture was a little flat, although it perked up a little towards the end as the visitors sought an equaliser to Boro’s 72nd minute goal.

The first 45 minutes was as unremarkable a half of football as you’ll see, and bookings for Tilbury’s Jack Hayes and Romford’s Jacob Wiggins – both for fouls – were two of the few incidents of note.

First half chances were scarce. Romford’s best efforts were a 9th minute free kick floated in from the right that Christian North in the Tilbury goal punched clear, and a ball into the box by Hassan Nalbant after 32 minutes that was met by Reece McGovern but which North blocked, with a follow up effort by Jaiden Babalola blocked and cleared by a Tilbury defender.

For the visitors, Alex Clark’s dangerous cross on the quarter hour required a good defensive header by Danny Hurford to avert the danger at the expense of a corner, and two minutes later Macauley Joynes had a shooting opportunity from a free-kick 25 yards out but lifted the ball over the crossbar.

Tilbury made more of the running after the break and in the 47th minute Jake Anderson saved well from Daniel Trendall after the Tilbury forward had made a strong run into Boro territory. Trendall was involved two minutes later when he sprayed a pass out to the right for Clark, who cut inside and struck a low shot that Anderson had to turn behind for a corner.

Tilbury’s Connor Martin was yellow carded after 60 minutes for a foul on Hassan Nalbant, and Nalbant joined him in referee Steven Walsh’s notebook shortly afterwards for a rather routine foul.

Nalbant made a more positive contribution in the 72nd minute with what proved to be the winning goal. Jaiden Babalola did well on the right and found space to deliver a cross from the right that Boro’s leading scorer met with a stooping header, beating North at his left hand post.

Nalbant went close to a second after 78 minutes with a flashing drive from the left hand side of the box that was deflected for a corner, and after 80 minutes Kris Newby might have done better than shoot wide after winning the ball in midfield and driving forward through the visitors’ defence.

Dan Spinks was dismissed from the bench having taken exception to one refereeing decision too many – this one for a free-kick awarded to Tilbury on Boro’s left flank – but the dead ball delivery was one of several mopped up by the Boro defence in which Remi Sutton and Scott Doe restricted the visitors to the odd half-chance despite their having a significant share of second half possession.

Amaree Robinson-Jones sent in a cross that was flicked on by Hassan Nalbant for substitute Finlay Dorrell to have a shot that was blocked after 85 minutes and in the second minute of stoppage time a determined run by Mike Faulkner set up Nalbant, who went past the Tilbury keeper but shot wide.

Kris Newby picked up a yellow card for blocking off the run of a Tilbury player breaking out of defence in the fourth and penultimate minute of stoppage time in which the visitors’ efforts to force an equaliser and a penalty shoot-out were perfunctory at best.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Danny Hurford, Amaree Robinson-Jones (Junior Luke, 87m), Remi Sutton, Jacob Wiggins (Kris Newby, 57m), Scott Doe, Jaiden Babalola, Hassan Nalbant, Charlie Morris (Finlay Dorrell, 66m), Reece McGovern (Toheeb Elegushi, 66m), Mike Faulkner. Unused sub: Jamie Hursit.