Having trailed by two goals after only 35 minutes, Romford fought back to claim a point, and the home side could have had few complaints had it been all three as Boro dominated second half proceedings, even more so after White Ensign were reduced to ten men.

Boro trailed after only three minutes, however. Ensign’s Joshua McFaull sent in a free-kick from the right and defender Nathan Wilson got the faintest of touches to divert the ball past Jack Dixson – making his debut in the Boro goal after joining on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge. Almost immediately, McFaull had a chance to double his side’s lead but a great challenge by George Cox denied him the chance of a shot.

Jayden Silcott-Brown was heavily involved as Boro sought an equaliser. First, having been put clear on the right, he created a shooting opportunity for Hassan Nalbant, whose 14th minute shot was deflected wide. Then, two minutes later, the Boro winger appeared to be pushed over in the penalty area, but referee Alan Steward was unmoved.

Junior Luke headed Kris Newby’s cross just wide after 17 minutes, while for White Ensign, Ethan Evison shot wide two minutes later. A Boro equaliser looked a certainty after 20 minutes when Nalbant’s low cross from the right was met by Charlie Morris, but with Ensign keeper Harry Fairs beaten, a covering defender cleared.

Jayden Silcott-Brown and Ensign defender Albert Galbally were both yellow carded after a 23rd minute fracas that escalated to the point where the home side’s McFaull and Boro’s Newby were also booked after becoming involved.

On the half hour Nalbant set up Morris for a shot that went just wide of Fairs’ left hand post but the home side went up the other end and Dixson had to get down well to push away a shot from close range. It was only a temporary reprieve as Dixson’s punch in the 35th minute was met by the head of Ensign’s Robbie Allen, and Boro were two down.

Allen was next involved when he was yellow carded for a poor challenge on Morris on the half way line, and the Ensign forward was lucky to receive only a ticking off rather than a second yellow after another foul a few minutes later. Justice was done however, as the resulting free-kick was floated in by Kris Newby and Hassan Nalbant headed home in the penultimate minute of normal time at the end of the first half, below, picture by Bob Knightley.

There was still time – in the sixth minute of added time – for Ensign to carve out another chance, but McFaull’s shot was comfortably saved by Dixson.

Hassan Nalbant had a shot blocked from Jayden Silcott-Brown’s cross in the opening minute of the second period, but White Ensign came close to a third when Ezekiel Bademosi shot wide almost immediately afterwards.

A scramble in the home penalty area following a corner nearly drew an equaliser, but Boro could not force the ball over the line, and then a dangerous long throw by Junior Luke was met by Hassan Nalbant, whose shot was deflected over.

Back came Ensign however, and on the hour they had two chances with Dixson having to turn a shot from Iyola Adebayo over the bar, and then Wilson headed a cross just wide.

Romford looked to have won a penalty when Kris Newby had his legs swept away as he shaped to shoot, but again, referee Steward’s standard for awarding a penalty was clearly higher than most referee’s (as he proved again later, when Charlie Morris was clearly pushed in the back as he contested a high ball but received no reward).

After 71 minutes however, the referee had no option but to award Boro a penalty when Nalbant’s on-target shot was handled by Mitch Stuart-Evans, who was sent off. Kris Newby stepped up and converted the spot-kick below, picture by Alan Blackholly.

Unsurprisingly, Boro’s man advantage enabled them to control the game more now, and chances fell to Newby, whose free-kick went just wide, Michael Turner, who had a shot blocked on the goal line after good work by Ash Siddik on the right had created the chance, and Bobby Dailly, whose header from Lee Hursit’s cross was narrowly off target.

A winner would not come and Boro had to be content with a point, an outcome that had looked unlikely thirty-five minutes after the start.

Romford: Jack Dixson, Jamie Hursit (Henry Hart, 77m), Junior Luke, Kris Newby, Michael Turner, Darren Phillips, Jayden Silcott-Brown (Ash Siddik, 77m), George Cox (Lee Hursit, 67m), Hassan Nalbant, Harrison Georgiou, Charlie Morris (Bobby Dailly, 87m). Unused sub: Jacob Wiggins