ROMFORD 2 (0) - (0) 0 AFC Hornchurch Attendance 213 - Ship Lane

In a first half of few chances Hornchurch enjoyed more of the possession and Michael Gooch back in the Romford goal for the first time in three years held on well to a Purcell free kick in the fourth minute, before a minute late Romford midfielder Joe Bricknell's half volley was saved. Hornchurch had a great chance to open the scoring in the eighth minute but after breaking through Tom Pennells decided attempt to chip the keeper but his effort sailed way over. Romford sent in a corner on twenty minutes that the Hornchurch keeper flapped at but Matt Frew was denied by good defensive play at the far post. The ball was only cleared to Jamie Dicks though, and his cross was headed wide of the far post again by Matt Frew. In the twenty-third minute a low driven shot from the edge of the box was well saved low to his left by Michael Gooch and Hornchurch got a slice of luck when Romford striker Shomari Barnwell got on the end of a through ball just before the Hornchurch stopper, but the he could not control the it cleanly and the defence scrambled a clearance . The visitors kept pushing forward but they often fell foul of Romford’s offside trap and their proven Ryman Premier League forwards were finding it difficult against Romford’s excellent back line playing together for the first time. When they did get through Nathan Cooper was quick enough to recover and clear the danger. Right on half time Romford won a free kick that was taken quickly and Ryan Boswell managed to get a shot off that was well saved.

Romford looked a much better team in the second half and started brightly with Jamie Dicks’ cross nearly sneaking in at the far post but the keeper was alert enough to tip the ball over, while at the other end Knight broke through but his effort went well wide when one on one with the keeper. On fifty minutes Joe Bricknell sent a shot just over after a neat one-two with Shomari Barnwell before Greg Akpele was put in the clear by Chris Barry and the impressive winger rounded the keeper but Hornchurch skipper Elliott Styles got back to clear off the line in the fifty-third minute. After lots of pressure Romford won a free kick on the left wing in the sixty-fourth minute and Chris Barry whipped the ball into the box where the Romford (Ak)pele rose unmarked to powerfully head the ball into the net and give the hosts the lead. The Boro nearly got a second three minutes later but after a neat turn by Shomari Barnwell his shot was well saved. Despite the lead Romford made an attacking substitution bringing on striker Nick Reynolds for midfielder Chris Barry and the big striker looked dangerous immediately, nearly getting on the end of a corner as the Hornchurch keeper once again flapped at a high ball. Greg Akpele picked the ball up out wide on the left wing in the seventy-fourth minute and beat his man before running into the box but instead of crossing the ball to the Romford players he decided to shoot and his shot was saved. Hornchurch nearly found a way back in the game when a deep cross was turned over the cross bar by Michael Gooch and from the following corner a massive scramble on the goal line was finally cleared. In the eighty-first minute Greg Akpele found himself free on the edge of the box and this time picked out his man, Nick Reynolds with a wonderful flick of the outside of his boot and the striker took one touch before powerfully firing home to send the home crowd wild. Hornchurch pushed forward, but with the whole Boro team showing tremendous effort and determination they were rarely threatened before the referee blew for full time giving Romford their first points of the season and early local bragging rights.

ROMFORD (0) 2 GREG AKPELE 64, NICK REYNOLDS 81

AFC HORNCHURCH (0) 0

ROMFORD: MICHAEL GOOCH, ROBBIE NORRIS, JAMIE DICKS (GEORGE WOODWARD 82), MATT FREW, NATHAN COOPER, CHRIS BARRY (NICK REYNOLDS 71), JAKE GIDDINGS (CHRIS TAYLOR 79), RYAN BOSWELL, SHOMARI BARNWELL, JOE BRICKNELL, GREG AKPELE. SUBS NOT USED ATU NGOY, REECE COSSON.

YELLOW CARDS: CHRIS TAYLOR 90