ROMFORD 2 (1) - (0) 2 Ware Attendance 75 - Ship Lane

After an evenly balanced start Ware had the game's first chance but Boro keeper Callum Chafer was on on hand to make a smart stop at his near post in the fifth minute, while for Romford Ryan Boswell, playing in a more advanced role was caught in two minds when he got on the end of Will Green's knock down eight minutes later and could not get enough power behind his shot. Back at the other end and another chance for the visitors went begging after a neat move down the right lead to the striker racing though, but he could only blaze over in the twentieth minute. Boswell and Tom Potter both went close for Romford before the Boro finally broke their long goal drought in league games as Charlie Portway emulated his father who twenty years ago also scored on his debut for the club . A ball down the right was chased by Chinedu McKenzie, but despite his cross being slightly over hit it was picked up by Green on the left touchline and sent back into the middle where Portway looped his header into the far corner in the thirty-seventh minute. Hayes Thomas did well to use his pace to snuff out a dangerous looking Ware attack while on the stroke of half time Matt Toms headed Jamie Dicks' corner not that far over.

Two minutes into the second half and Romford doubled their lead when Dicks sent in a dangerous cross that was only half cleared to McKenzie and his skill got him to the byline where he looked up and pulled the ball back to Portway who neatly placed the ball into the back of the net from six yards. Romford were well on top and nearly grabbed a third when Paul Preston's cross was deflected onto the bar and Boswell sent the rebound bouncing just over but three minutes later Ware hit back when Brian Haule smashed the ball home after Chafer had made a good save from a header in the fifty-third minute. It was nearly all square four minutes later but a dangerous ball into the box could only be hit over the bar as Ware smelt blood. Dicks was on hand to clear the ball off the line as this end to end game become tense and in the sixty-second minute Romford seemed to get the upper hand as Alaa Oudji was sent off for impeding Boswell when he was clean through. Despite their numerical disadvantage Ware still fancied their chances and Chafer was on hand to save well low down but Romford also fancied another goal and were denied by the woodwork for the second time when McKenzie's cross hit the post. With six minutes left Ware grabbed the equaliser when they suddenly had an overload of players in the Boro box and the cross found Murat Karagul free at the far post to fire home. In the last seconds of the game substitute Nick Reynolds had a great chance to give Romford the win they just about deserved but after holding off his man and going through one on one, scuffed his shot well wide.

ROMFORD (1)2 CHARLIE PORTWAY 37, 47

WARE (0) 2 HAULE 53, KARAGUL 84

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER, RYAN BOSWELL, PAUL PRESTON, TOM POTTER, MATT TOMS, HAYES THOMAS, JONATHON ADEBAYO, JAMIE DICKS (DANNY COSSINGTON 68), CHINEDU MCKENZIE, CHARLIE PORTWAY (NICK REYNOLDS 79), WILL GREEN SUBS NOT USED ASHLEY BANKOLE, CHRIS BARRY, RYAN MALLETT

YELLOW CARDS TOM POTTER 30, MATT TOMS 84