ROMFORD 1 (1) - (0) 1 Thurrock Attendance 93 - Ship Lane

Played in some of the most windy conditions I have ever seen at a match both teams struggled to adapt to the conditions. Romford had the advantage in the first half, pinning Thurrock back in their box and nearly taking the lead as early as the fourth minute when George Woodward whipped in a free kick that just eluded Nick Reynolds and the far post. Two minutes later and after a good run, Luke Stanley was fouled on the edge of the box before taking the free kick himself that smacked against the crossbar. George Woodward had a long range effort that just went over before at the other end Thurrock had a glorious chance to take the lead, but after a left wing cross found the forward he headed well over. On twenty minutes and just to show how windy it was, the Thurrock keeper took a goal kick that caught the gale and spun back toward his goal before bouncing over the crossbar and out for a Romford corner. The Boro thought they had scored a minute later when Reynolds was on hand to tap in a low cross but the linesman had his flag up for offside. Romford did finally open the scoring in comical fashion when Thurrock defender Karaml Duncan tried to clear the ball but once again the wind picked it up and sent it hurtling back towards the Thurrock goal and the keeper could only get his finger tips to it before it dropped into the net. Reynolds had a long range effort well saved before Thurrock had two chances in quick succession when Michael Gooch saved well from Charlie Stimson before the same player hit the bar when clean through. Right on half time Reynolds had another chance to double the lead for Romford but after getting in behind his man his effort was blocked.

After the break and change of ends the general consensus was that a one goal lead would not be enough for Romford if the storm kept up or even worsened, but for a while their prayers were answered and it eased off somewhat. Four minutes in Stanley got on ball in midfield and picked out Chinedu McKenzie who raced through and beat the keeper to the ball but his toe poke went inches wide. With the wind now increasing to it's first half level Thurrock started to pile on the pressure but could not break down the stubborn Boro defence and when they did, poor finishing let them down. As the minutes ticked away Ross Wall header a glorious chance over the bar when free in the box and Reece Morgan fired just wide after a good move. However on seventy-five minutes Thurrock did grab an equaliser when a quick free kick found Wall who slipped the ball past Gooch and into the net. The Boro faithful could now envisage the game slipping away with Thurrock on top and the wind behind them, but the defence stoop firm and Gooch was hardly tested before the referee blew the final whistle to give Romford a well earned and fair share of the spoils against the team who started the match third in the league table.

ROMFORD (1) 1 DUNCAN O.G 23

THURROCK (0) 1 WALL 75

ROMFORD: MICHAEL GOOCH, HARRY CULHAM, GEORGE WOODWARD, MATT FREW, MOSHOOD OLAFUNMISHE, DANNY COSSINGTON (LIAM BURGESS 86), CHRIS BARRY, LUKE STANLEY, NICK REYNOLDS (TOM POTTER 78), CHINEDU MCKENZIE, AKWASI MARFO (CHRIS TAYLOR 82) SUBS NOT USED LEE WEEMES, CONNOR GOLDSTONE

YELLOW CARD: LUKE STANLEY 88