Thamesmead Town 2 (2) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 160 - Bayliss Avenue‏

With key squad members unavailable for various reasons, Paul Martin again had to shuffle the pack but Romford surprised the hosts by taking an early lead in the eighth minute when a neat one-two in the box between Chinedu McKenzie and Akwasi Marfo allowed the latter to bury a left foot drive into the far corner of the goal from a tight angle to open up his account for the club. Romford were on top, but could not extend their lead and were pegged back in the twenty-fourth minute when a deep cross to the far post was headed across the goal and Baff Addae nodded the ball past Michael Gooch and into the net. Thamesmead nearly went ahead two minutes later, but Michael Gooch was quick off his line and the forward's shot cannoned back off the crossbar and straight back into the grateful keeper's hands whilst he was still grounded. Greg Akpele had looked creative down the right side but Boro were forced into a change when a foul on him meant he was unable to continue. Jack Leachman came on for his debut, but unfortunately he was wrong footed and could not intercept a loose ball which found it's way to Ibrahim Kargbo on the edge of the Romford box and he was quick to take the opportunity to fire low through a crowd of players into the goal on thirty-eight minutes, to give Thamesmead an undeserved lead. Right on half time Romford nearly went in level when a corner found Matt Frew unmarked on the penalty spot but the big defender sent his header just over.

Romford came out for the second half with renewed spirit and for long periods enjoyed the territorial advantage, but neither team were able to create too much in the way of clear chances on goal and Thamesmead seemed happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and try to hit Romford on the counter attack. The visitors did go close when George Woodward hit a shot from outside of the area that beat the keeper but came back off the crossbar on the the hour, before Chris Barry came off the bench to make his one hundred and fiftieth appearance for the club and play against his brother, but even his usual skill and energy in midfield could not do anything to alter the scoreline as Mead held out for the win.

The narrow defeat showed once again that on their day there is not too much between Romford and the better financed Ryman North promotion chasers.

THAMESMEAD TOWN (2) ADDAE 24, KARGBO 38

ROMFORD (1) 1 AKWASI MARFO 8

ROMFORD: MICHAEL GOOCH, RYAN BOSWELL, GEORGE WOODWARD, MATT FREW, TOM POTTER, DANNY COSSINGTON (CHRIS BARRY 71), CONNOR GOLDSTONE, JOE SCOTT (GEORGE TUBEY 80), AKWASI MARFO, CHINEDU MCKENZIE, GREG AKPELE (JACK LEACHMAN 32) SUBS NOT USED HARRY CULHAM, JAKE GIDDINGS

YELLOW CARDS: MATT FREW 67, CHRIS BARRY 88