ROMFORD 1 (0) - (3) 3 Needham Market Attendance 79 - Ship Lane

Boro seemed to have a hangover after Monday's marathon that went to extra time and Needham profited with three first half goals. Aaron Omand was called into action early on, and then on nineteen minutes Needham launched a swift counter attack with the ball falling to right wing back Luke Ingram who hit a screamer into the top corner of the goal. Two minutes later their lead was doubled with Oliver Fenn heading home past Aaron Omand when the centre back was left unmarked in the area. Romford were then forced into an early change when top scorer Ryan Imbert limped off and was replaced by Nick Reynolds. They finally started to look like their normal selves with Tom Richardson doing well on the right before sending a shot just over. On thirty-seven minutes David Ottley did well to intercept the ball down the right and sent in a fantastic cross that was met by a diving Jack Barry, but his header went just wide before the same player volleyed over from Tom Richardson’s pull back. Just when it looked like the Boro were going to get back in the game Needham hit them with a sucker punch as a low cross found its way to Sam Newson to tap home from a yard out right on half time.

Romford did finally get on the scoreboard on fifty-three minutes when Abs Seymour swung in a free kick and Tom Richardson headed home. Minutes later there was a goalmouth scramble in the Needham penalty area and just as Nick Reynolds looked like he was going to pull the trigger the keeper got his finger tips to the ball to take it off the striker's toes. The game became a bit stop start which lead to a few Romford bookings but they were still pushing forward and Reece Tranter who had just come on for the injured Abs Seymour bundled his way through and chipped the keeper but the ball went just over the bar. On seventy-nine minutes Romford’s chances were over when twice in quick succession George Cocklin was booked for two very soft challenges which lead to a red card. Needham got back on top with the extra man and should have made their scoreline more comfortable but were denied by some great defending and poor finishing. Romford did still continue to attack right up to the last minutes and Tom Richardson came close twice to grabbing his second goal of the game but was denied by the keeper.

ROMFORD (0) 1 TOM RICHARDSON 53,

NEEDHAM MARKET (3) 3 INGRAM 19, FENN 21, NEWSON 45

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, DAVID OTTLEY, JAMES ISHMAIL (PAUL PRESTON 81), MATT TOMS, JAMIE DICKS, PAUL CLAYTON, JACK BARRY, ABS SEYMOUR (REECE TRANTER 60), RYAN IMBERT (NICK REYNOLDS 27), TOM RICHARDSON, GEORGE COCKLIN SUBS NOT USED NATHAN COOPER.

YELLOW CARDS: JAMES ISHMAIL 49, TOM RICHARDSON 58, JAMIE DICKS 64, GEORGE COCKLIN 78,

RED CARDS: GEORGE COCKLIN 79,