Romford Dig Deep

Romford (1) 2, Woodford Town (0) 1 – Wednesday 8th November 2023 – Essex Senior League

Romford dug deep to take maximum points against a Woodford Town side who had previously been beaten only once in the league and moved up a place into third in the process.

Boro were on top in the early stages and had the first on-target effort when Michael Turner’s header from Kris Newby’s corner was comfortably gathered by Eddie Allan in the Woodford goal. The visitors then broke quickly but saw their move broken up when they conceded a free-kick for Luke Parrott’s foul on Newby for which the Woodford skipper was booked.

Flynn Hamilton had a shot that Allan saved well at his right hand post and Finlay Dorrell, having been put clear on the right by Henry Hart, saw his low ball snaffled up by Allan as Charlie Morris hared into the penalty area after 14 minutes.

Woodford had a couple of half chances in quick succession around the 25th minute with David Gokuo denied by a combination of Scott Doe and Jake Anderson, and then a half-chance fell to Alex Bolovan but his shot passed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Woodford were beginning to gain the ascendancy at this stage and while their crossing and shooting was largely off target, Anderson was forced into a save from Jed Brown-Johnson’s effort after 34 minutes before Boro took the lead after 39 minutes.

Flynn Anderson took a pass from George Cox and played the ball between the Woodford centre-backs. Charlie Morris set off in pursuit as Allan raced from his goal to clear, but the Woodford keeper missed the ball entirely, leaving Morris the straightforward opportunity to roll the ball into an empty net, and he duly obliged.

Michael Turner picked up a yellow card for pulling back Nathan Sollosi at the start of the second half – fortunately, the Woodford forward was far enough from goal that referee Brian Taylor did not have to consider a card of a different colour.

Woodford levelled the scores after 56 minutes, breaking down the left and playing the ball across goal for Jed Brown-Johnson, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area found the bottom corner.

Kris Newby tried his luck from range after 62 minutes, but his shot drifted wide, and then Junior Luke received a yellow card for a foul before Boro’s lead was restored after 71 minutes. Kris Newby’s corner from the left was headed clear, but the ball was played back to the Boro captain, whose low cross eluded everyone and crept in at the far post.

Kris Newby, capped a fine display with his fourth goal of the season.

Woodford were reduced to ten men after 83 minutes when Alex Bolovan was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Charlie Morris, who almost immediately set up substitute Amaree Robinson-Jones with a chance to score and put the game beyond the visitors, but he shot wide from close range. Robinson-Jones was subsequently booked for unwisely kicking the ball away after conceding a throw in.

Three minutes into stoppage time and another sub, Hassan Nalbant, broke through but his shot lacked power and Allan gathered, allowing Woodford a last chance to attack, from which they won a free-kick on the edge of the Romford penalty area for a foul that George Cox was booked for. Some delay ensued before Woodford were able to take the free-kick as a bit of a rumpus broke out, at the end of which – after consulting his assistant – referee Taylor showed the visitors’ Luke Parrott a red card. David Gokou’s free-kick beat the wall, but not Anderson, who turned the shot onto a post to preserve Boro’s lead.

That’s two from two at Rookery Hill for Boro, who have settled into their new home quite nicely, thank you.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Junior Luke, Henry Hart, Daniel Nakipov-Getmansky, Michael Turner, Scott Doe, Charlie Morris, George Cox, Finlay Dorrell (Hassan Nalbant, 84m), Flynn Hamilton (Amaree Robinson-Jones, 66m), Kris Newby. Unused subs: Jacob Wiggins, Lee Hursit, Ashaan Siddik.