AFC Sudbury 3 (0) - (0) 0 ROMFORD Attendance 227 - Brundon Lane

With the midweek departures and unavailability of other squad members Paul Martin just about managed to find twelve fit players by drafting in three youngsters from an associated junior club, but they must have surprised the hosts by having much the better of the first half and with any fortune would have gone in at the break with at least a one goal lead. On a heavily sanded pitch that would have reminded veteran observers of the sixties Boro's first chance came as early as the third minute as Nick Reynolds beat the offside trap and squared in a perfect cross that nobody could get on the end off. Sudbury responded almost instantly with a good cross of their own that a forward put just past the post.
On eight minutes Callum Ibe fashioned an opening for himself on the edge of the penalty area and shot just wide with the keeper unsighted. Then in the 19th minute came the incident that summed up the luck Romford have been having all season. Debutant Joe Ewenson did wonderfully well to catch a long pass forward just before it went out for a goal kick and got it back to Samuel Kemp whose outswinging cross found the head of Nick Reynolds. It looked to Boro's usual large away support that the ball was sailing in but at the last second seemed to swerve and cannon back off the post.
For the rest of the half Romford still pushed forward, creating chances and spending most of the time in Sudbury territory although the home team always looked dangerous on the break.
With no reward for such a storming show it was important that Boro consolidated at the start of the second period but after six minutes they went behind when Terry Rymer broke clear to shoot past Aaron Omand Even though it looked like a Romford player was fouled in the build up. A rather fortunate second followed on the hour when a cross from the right went in on off Nathan Cooper who was trying to close down a Sudbury attacker. With legs tiring on the heavy surface and only one fit substitute on the bench Romford still attacked but were denied by some good saves by the Sudbury keeper and some heavy challenges by his defence which brought yellow cards. At the other end there was also good work by Aaron Omand before Sudbury were flattered with an injury time goal from Gianfranco Mallardo. No points, but every Romford man was applauded off after such a battling display.

AFC SUDBURY (0) 3 RYMER 51, COOPER O.G 62, G MALLARDO 90+2

ROMFORD (0) 0

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, SAMUEL KEMP, CHRIS BARRY, JAMES ISHMAIL, NATHAN COOPER, JOE EWENSON, JACK GRANT, ABS SEYMOUR, NICK REYNOLDS (TOM LAMB 75), EDDIE HART, CALLUM IBE.

YELLOW CARD: ABS SEYMOUR 51, JAMES ISHMAIL 82

MATCH REPORT BY PHIL REDWIN