Redbridge 1 (0) - (1) 6 ROMFORD Attendance 109 - Oakside‏

On a wet and muddy pitch the game somehow survived a pitch inspection and both teams unsurprisingly took a while to adapt to the sticky conditions. It was Romford's Akeyinka Cole who had the game's first effort but his long range shot was easily saved in the thirteenth minute. The Boro were forced into an early sub when Sam Coe limped off and was replaced by Joe Scott and this change may have been playing on the minds of the players as a defensive mix up nearly gifted Redbridge the opening goal, but Michael Gooch stood strong and saved the shot. On the half hour Jamie Dicks unleashed a thirty yard thunderbolt that was flying into the top corner before the Redbridge stopper somehow managed to get across and tip the ball over and the combative midfielder then headed a good chance over eight minutes later. Romford finally got the goal their play deserved when in the fortieth minute George Woodward got down the left wing and saw his cross blocked, but only cleared to Joe Scott on the edge of the box. The striker steadied himself in the mud to take aim and hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Romford came out in the second half all guns blazing with Cole dancing his way through the home defence before having his shot deflected just inches past the post, but the Boro did get their second goal five minutes into the half with Dicks leading a counter attack that Cole took over and raced down the right wing. His cross found it's way to Nick Reynolds who unselfishly set up Scott to grab his second of the match as the striker shot low with just enough power for the ball to cross the line. Romford had a huge shout for a penalty moments later when Cole looked to be fouled in the box but it did not matter as after the ball was cleared for a corner Woodward crossed to the far post where Tom Potter ghosted in unmarked and swept the ball home to score his first for the club. The three goal advantage then only lasted a few minutes as the Boro defence could not clear the ball out of the mud in their own box leaving Charlie Portway, son of Boro legend Steve to scramble a goal back for the hosts. Redbridge's chances of an unlikely comeback went out the window when on the hour Nick Reynolds raced onto a long clearance by Gooch and placed his shot past the keeper and into the back of the net. Romford were now well on top and almost seemed likely to score with every attack as the overworked Redbridge back line was looking more and more static and getting beaten by simple through balls. Joe Scott's pace was especially causing them a lot of problems and he missed a hat trick, hitting the post when clean through but then had to be carried off the field with what was later diagnosed as a broken ankle. He was substituted by Chris Taylor who was swiftly into the action, getting behind the defence to pick up a Reynolds quick thinking, long throw. The ball was returned to Reynolds in space and the striker teed up Tom Anderson to curl an unstoppable shot into the far corner and open his account for the club. In the last minute or normal time Jamie Dicks was rewarded for a great performance, earning a free kick on the edge of the box that he took himself to send a low powerful drive into the bottom corner. There was still time at the other end for Redbridge to hit the post and miss an open goal but it was Romford's day to shine on a gloomy afternoon for the Motormen.

REDBRIDGE (0) 1 PORTWAY 55

ROMFORD (1) 6 JOE SCOTT 40, 50, TOM POTTER 53, NICK REYNOLDS 60, TOM ANDERSON 79, JAMIE DICKS 90

ROMFORD: MICHAEL GOOCH, RYAN BOSWELL, CHRIS BARRY, JAMES ISHMAIL, TOM POTTER, JAMIE DICKS, TOM ANDERSON, GEORGE WOODWARD (AKWASI MARFO 84), NICK REYNOLDS, SAM COE (JOE SCOTT 20, CHRIS TAYLOR 78), ADEYINKA COLE SUBS NOT USED BESFORT SADIKU AND DANNY COSSINGTON