Redbridge 2 (0) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 46 - Oakside

Both teams started slowly, probing each other carefully until on seven minutes Romford went close with a low drive that was saved, before six minutes later they were denied a clear penalty for handball in the box when a cross from the right hit a defender's outstretched arm. Redbridge then enjoyed a good spell with Boro stopper Aaron Omand twice saving well and also being helped out by some wayward finishing. Romford debutant Tyrone Scarlett should have scored on thirty minutes but his header was superbly saved and his scuffed attempt on the rebound went wide. Redbridge fired just over from a free kick before Romford scored the game’s opening goal right on half time when they had a corner cleared to Loui Hazelwood out on the left wing. He cut inside and hit a ferocious shot from twenty five yards into the top corner of the goal to give the visitors a massive boost as they went in for the break.

Redbridge got an equaliser five minutes into the second half when Aaron Scott was left unmarked in the box to head home a corner and two minutes later from a near identical position the hosts hit the post from a free kick. These two chances sprung Romford into action and Callum Ibe could not quite get enough on the ball to get it past the keeper from a good cross and Loui Hazelwood’s shot was deflected just the wrong side of the post. Loui Hazelwood playing in a more central role went on a run and unleashed another good shot that was pushed out to the same player and he crossed to Joe Scott who’s header was beaten out. On seventy minutes Romford had atrocious luck when Abs Seymour produced a fantastic cross to Nick Reynolds but the striker's bullet header struck the inside of the post and bounced straight back into the arms of the well beaten keeper.
Then with twelve minutes to go after a disputed free kick Romford failed to clear the ball properly giving Redbridge the opportunity to launch an attack. Nathan Cooper was adjudged to have fouled his man in the box and Mark Nougher coolly stepped up and sent Aaron Omand the wrong way to give his team victory and leave Boro to reflect on yet another unlucky defeat.

REDBRIDGE (0) 2 SCOTT 50, NOUGHER 78

ROMFORD (1) 1 LOUI HAZELWOOD 45

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, SAMUEL KEMP, CHRIS BARRY (NICK REYNOLDS 39), JAMES ISHMAIL, NATHAN COOPER, JERMAINE FINDLATOR (DANIEL JONES 83), LOUI HAZELWOOD, ABS SEYMOUR, TYRONE SCARLETT (MARK LORD 90), JOE SCOTT, CALLUM IBE.

YELLOW CARDS: NATHAN COOPER 37