Storm Pia played its part as Romford came from behind to earn their first win over White Ensign at the fifth attempt. With the wind at their backs after the break, Boro spent most of the second half camped deep in the visitors’ half, but it wasn’t until the last quarter of an hour that their resistance was broken.

Both sides had early chances. In the very first minute Hassan Nalbant was denied by White Ensign keeper Harry Fairs after being set up by Finlay Dorrell and Charlie Morris, and almost immediately Ensign threatened when Ezzie Bademosi chased down a pass back to Jake Anderson and won a corner.

The sides continued to exchange chances. After seven minutes a cross by Jamie Hursit was knocked down to Dorrell, who shot over but a couple of minutes later it took a smart save from Anderson to deny Ensign’s Ben Sargent.

Sargent was involved in the move that gave Ensign a 23rd minute lead. His throw on the right flank was headed on by Robbie Allen and worked through to Bademosi who clipped the ball over the advancing Anderson. White Ensign created a good opportunity to double their lead two minutes later when play was switched quickly from right to left, finding Kacper Gruszcynski well placed, but he shot over the bar.

Charlie Morris went for power over placement when meeting Hassan Nalbant’s cross on 26 minutes; his shot flew over the crossbar. The only other incident of note in the first half came in the penultimate minute when White Ensign’s Bademosi found himself with a shooting opportunity after running onto a long defensive header, but to Boro’s relief, he blasted the ball wide.

Little was seen of the visitors as an attacking force after the interval, as with Storm Pia pushing them forward, Boro mounted a siege on the Ensign goal. In the half’s very first minute, Hassan Nalbant knocked the ball on for Finlay Dorrell for a shot that Fairs turned round the post. Boro then won a string of corners which Ensign defended against with increasing desperation until Fairs eventually claimed possession.

Finlay Dorrell’s 59th minute shot on the turn was just wide, but Charlie Morris was more extravagantly off target a minute later when he tried to capitalise on Fairs’ poor clearance with a shot from the half-way line.

Michael Turner in the thick of things as Boro chase an equaliser

The visitors were reduced to ten men after 65 minutes when Eddie Allen – who had earlier been booked for a foul – brought down Junior Luke and was shown a second yellow. Bookings ensued for Finlay Dorrell and Ensign’s Josh McFaull after Boro had been awarded a free kick and the visiting player refused to return the ball.

Ensign continued to frustrate Boro with Fairs diving to save at Charlie Morris’s feet after 67 minutes. It looked as though Boro would end the day pointless until a 77th minute long throw by Junior Luke caused confusion in the Ensign defence. The ball popped up onto the crossbar before falling invitingly for Finlay Dorrell to score from close range. Fairs and Charlie Morris were both cautioned for a wrestling match to see who would pick the ball out of the net.

Junior Luke played Dorrell in for a shot that Fairs saved after 83 minutes, but Boro finally went ahead after 87 minutes. Lee Hursit’s corner from the left bobbled around the penalty area, and when it was half cleared, Hursit again lofted the ball in. Fairs punched clear, but only to Boro sub Jacob Wiggins on the edge of the box. Wiggins’ shot may have been going in, or may have been going wide, but Fairs’ attempt to save ended with him punching the ball into his own net.

Not a Romford player in sight, but the ball is in the net and Boro have all three points

Boro might have had a third in the fourth minute of stoppage time when subs Ash Siddik and Darren Phillips combined to create a shooting opportunity for Finlay Dorrell, but his well struck shot was saved by the overworked Fairs.

This was by no means a classic game of football, but the last fifteen minutes were among the most dramatic of the season so far.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Jamie Hursit (Ash Siddik, 63m), Junior Luke, Finlay Dorrell, Michael Turner, Scott Doe, Lee Hursit, Malaki Toussaint (Darren Phillips, 75m), Hassan Nalbant (Jacob Wiggins, 75m), Charlie Morris, Amaree Robinson-Jones. Unused subs Wayne Baker, Danny Hurford.

Pictures by Bob Knightley