Brightlingsea Regent 3 (2) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 92 - North Road‏

Brightlingsea were quick out of the traps and Aaron Omand had to be alert in the second minute, producing a fantastic save to deny the forward at the far post but only a minute later the visitors were behind when Matt Toms turned a cross into his own net despite suspicions of offside in the build up. Romford were nearly back on level terms on five minutes after Callum Ibe did well down the right but his cross was nicked off Abs Seymour's toes just as the midfielder looked like he was about to bury the chance. On eighteen minutes a high ball in the box left Oliver Canfer the easiest of chances when Aaron Omand was challenged and dropped the ball at the striker's feet in an incident that nowadays is always given as a foul on the keeper even though older supporters probably would not agree.

The Boro started to find their feet and Jamie Dicks sent a powerful long range drive straight at the keeper and on thirty minutes Eddie Hart raced through and looked to have slotted the ball in the corner, but the keeper got his outstretched foot to the ball to divert it just the wrong side of the post. Following a string of corners Abs Seymour sent in an inswinging one from the right hand side that caught the wind and curled into the net on thirty-three minutes.

Romford were pressing forward but couldn't get the rub of the green in the opposition area and with virtually their first attack of the second half the hosts got a third when Phil Kelly ran across the area before hitting a low drive into the bottom corner on sixty-five minutes. Despite having shown their ability to play some good football on the slippery surface, Brightlingsea now concentrated on time wasting and going to ground every time a Romford player attempted a tackle and this resulted in some ridiculous cautions for the visitors. They still managed to create a number of chances, and from one of these substitute Reece Tranter did well down the right before cutting in and curling a shot past the keeper, but the ball was cleared off the line. The winger went close later on firing just wide, but despite these efforts Brightlingsea probably deserved their win even though some of the playacting left a sour taste.

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT (2) 3 TOMS O.G 3, CANFER 18, KELLY 65

ROMFORD (1) 1 ABS SEYMOUR 33

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, JACK BARRY, TYLER HAYES, MATT TOMS, NATHAN COOPER, JAMES ISHMAIL, JAMIE DICKS (GEORGE COCKLIN 70), ABS SEYMOUR, EDDIE HART, REECE COSSON (REECE TRANTER 70), CALLUM IBE (NICK REYNOLDS 77) SUBS NOT USED ROBBIE NORRIS

YELLOW CARDS: CALLUM IBE 13, EDDIE HART 40, ABS SEYMOUR 70, JAMES ISHMAIL 77, TYLER HAYES 87.