Aveley 4 (3) - (1) 4 ROMFORD attendance 87 - Mill Field

For the first twenty-five minutes Romford were well on top and opened the scoring after eight minutes when Samuel Kemp crossed and Joe Scott headed into the corner via the bar and the Aveley keeper. Five minutes later and Joe Scott got behind the defence and around the keeper but after being forced wide he pulled the ball back to Loui Hazelwood, but the winger could not find a way through the Aveley defence who by now had managed to get back into position. On sixteen minutes Nathan Cooper nearly doubled the Romford lead but his header from Abs Seymour’s cross was tipped wide.
On twenty-seven minutes and with their first real attack, Aveley equalised when Spencer Harrison headed home a free kick and then stunned Boro two minutes later when the same player put the hosts ahead, turning the ball in at the far post after it was cleverly headed back across goal from another free kick. Loui Hazelwood had another chance for Romford but his shot was well saved before Aveley went two goals ahead when Jack Stevenson scored from the penalty spot after a foul by James Ishmail, the third conceded by Romford in three games. Jack Barry headed against the bar and over after the ball had pinballed around the Aveley penalty area before Nick Reynolds fired home to reduce the deficit right on half time, shooting into the far corner after Abs Seymour’s deep cross found the striker unmarked at the far post. There was still time for Aveley to get the chance to restore a two goal cushion go when Theo Ola danced his way past the Romford defence and keeper but he somehow blazed over the open goal from three yards.

Romford began the second half the way they had started the first and were denied an equaliser when Nick Reynolds' header was cleared off the line and Loui Hazelwood's shot from three yards was somehow tipped over all within the first seven minutes. From the resulting corner Abs Seymour’s cross was handled by Harrison and the referee pointed to the spot. Loui Hazelwood slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net, sending the keeper the wrong to bring the scores level. Jack Barry twice nearly put Romford ahead a minute later but his first header was cleared off the line and his second one was well saved. On sixty minutes Abs Seymour who had been running the midfield, found space outside the area but his long range effort flew just wide and five minutes later Joe Scott outpaced his marker but could only pull his shot wide of the far post. On sixty-seven minutes Callum Ibe found space on the right wing and produced a great cross that Jack Barry met with a powerful header to give Romford a deserved lead. Joe Scott nearly put Romford further ahead but once again dragged his shot wide before tragically Aveley were allowed to break down the left and a deep cross found former Boro player Petrit Elbi unmarked, and able to head in a very fortunate equaliser. Then Aveley nearly won it in injury time when a forward found himself free in the area but his header went well wide.

All in all a fantastic match for any neutrals present with a superb attacking display from Romford and Aveley always looking dangerous on the counter.

AVELEY (3) 4 HARRISON 27, 29, STEVENSON 42 PEN, ELBI 85

ROMFORD (1) 4 JOE SCOTT 8, NICK REYNOLDS 42, LOUI HAZELWOOD 53 PEN, JACK BARRY 67

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, SAMUEL KEMP, LUKE MCLEAVY, JAMES ISHMAIL, NATHAN COOPER, JACK BARRY (CHRIS BARRY 76), LOUI HAZELWOOD, ABS SEYMOUR, NICK REYNOLDS (TYRONE SCARLETT 82), JOE SCOTT (SAM BAFFOUR 82), CALLUM IBE SUBS NOT USED JAMIE BYRNE, ROBBIE NORRIS.

YELLOW CARDS: SAMUEL KEMP 45, LOUI HAZELWOOD 69, ABS SEYMOUR 87.