There was drama at both ends of this game as Romford made it nine league wins on the bounce to keep the pressure on second placed Woodford Town, whom Boro trail by a solitary goal.

The game kicked off late – and was in danger of not starting at all – when one of the assistant referees cried off twenty minutes before kick-off. Fortunately, a stand-in was sourced from among the Stanway contingent, and the game proceeded as planned.

With both sides having been in such fine form of late, each having won their last six in the league, it was inevitable that they would largely cancel one another out, and the first half was higher on effort than it was on chances.

Sam Deering had a header saved by Rovers’ keeper Callum Robinson from Junior Luke’s long throw after five minutes, and after 15 minutes Stanway’s Jamie Bennett cut in from the left and shot into the side netting. Ash Siddik had perhaps the best chance of the first half when he found himself with a clear shot at goal on the right after half an hour, but while his shot had sufficient power, it had too much height and sailed over the bar.

Stanway were within inches of taking the lead after 39 minutes when a corner was headed against the bar, but Romford closed out the half with a chance that Michael Bakare and Sam Deering created with the former just over-running the ball which went behind.

Referee Tony King – who handled the game in the same pragmatic way he had done when Boro entertained Tilbury in January – had a busier second half than he had had in the first, with two Boro players and three from Stanway going in his book. Adalberto Pinto was cautioned for a foul after 55 minutes and Jake Anderson went in the book for time wasting six minutes into stoppage time. Stanway’s Milo Grimes was booked for a foul on Hassan Nalbant and Harry Thomas was cautioned for a challenge on Jamie Hursit, while Nat Mardell was carded for impeding Jake Anderson as he cleared the ball.

Chances remained scarce however, as while Stanway – now kicking down the slope – had early pressure, the best they could muster was a shot from Jordan Barnett that went well wide. Harry Thomas volleyed over Anderson’s bar after 64 minutes before Boro might have gone ahead a minute later when Siddik worked himself into space in the box but instead of shooting, laid the ball off with no Boro player able to take advantage.

Finlay Dorrell ran on to fellow substitute Jaiden Babalola’s pass after 71 minutes and was just off target with a well struck shot and after 75 minutes Hassan Nalbant headed into the side netting after Robinson had punched away Junior Luke’s long throw. A lengthy delay ensued while Stanway defender Tyler Corlett received treatment having been kneed in the back by his own keeper; eventually he had to be replaced.

Late Stanway appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee King, and three minutes into added time, Boro broke the deadlock. When Stanway failed to get the ball away – their final clearance had plenty of elevation but not much distance – it fell to Sam Deering on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder bagged his fifth goal in nine games with a well controlled low volley that went in at the far post.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Jamie Hursit, Junior Luke, Daniel Nakipov-Getmansky, Jacob Wiggins (Finlay Dorrell, 67m), Scott Doe, Ash Siddik (Jaiden Babalola, 67m), Adalberto Pinto, Hassan Nalbant, Sam Deering, Michael Bakare. Unused subs: Danny Hurford, Lee Hursit, Luke Foster