Bury Town 1 (0) - (0) 2 ROMFORD Attendance 254 - Ram Meadow

The Boro gave debuts to Asher Modeste and Ayo Olukoga but it was Jonathan Adebayo and Chinedu McKenzie who linked up well with some slick passing before the ball found it's was to Will Green who could only fire over while under pressure in the fourth minute, while McKenzie could only volley wide ten minutes later after Modeste played him through. Bury got their first real chance when a cross from the left wing found its way to the far post but Remi Garrett's shot went just over the bar, while at the other end Adebayo's header was easily saved. Callum Chafer in the Boro goal had to be alert in the thirty-eighth minute when a ball forward found Nick Ingram in space and as he drove into the left hand side of the box unleashed a powerful effort that was pushed away. A minute later and Green lead a Boro counter attack before Modeste took over and cut in, but his shot was blocked and the chance was lost. As Romford went in for the break they would have been well pleased with a first half performance which put the promotion chasing home team on the back foot for long periods.

Five minutes into the second half and Olukoga carried the ball to the edge of the Bury box and after making space, curled an effort just wide of the goal but two minutes later the deadlock was broken at the other end. A ball forward should have been easily intercepted by James Ishmail but as the ball bounced awkwardly it may have just brushed his hand and the referee some way behind play was quick to award the free kick and book the Boro man. The ball was sent into the box and cleared for a corner and from that set piece a free header hit the post before Ingram fired home the rebound. Despite this set back Romford had been the better team and refused to role over with Adebayo going close, before the visitors got back into the game when Chafer's long free kick found Ryan Mallett, who had driven all the way south from Darlington for the fixture unmarked on the edge of the box. He had time to look up and pick out McKenzie, who controlled and smashed the ball low past the keeper in the fifty-eighth minute. McKenzie's confidence was now sky high and he was causing all sorts of problems. Two minutes after his goal he again received the ball in the area and used his quick feet to beat his man and make space but the keeper denied the forward with a good save.

Romford were also defending well and finding time to build dangerous attacks from the back and a clever long ball found both Modeste and McKenzie running through, but just as they seemed to be getting in each others way McKenzie fired a shot that was pushed across goal by the keeper, but Green was racing in from the left and on hand to place the bouncing ball into the back of the net. With nineteen minutes to hold out there were a probably more nerves among the travelling Boro contingent on the terraces than the team on the pitch as the players looked comfortable in soaking up any Bury pressure and the lead was nearly extended when Adebayo picked the ball up at the halfway line and as space opened up he managed to get into the box, but his shot was pushed out for a corner. However this allowed Romford to see out the last moments of the game with possession around the corner flag before the final whistle came along with celebrations on and off the pitch from players, management and fans for the best result of the season so far.

BURY TOWN (0) 1 INGRAM 52

ROMFORD (0) 2 CHINEDU MCKENZIE 58, WILL GREEN 71

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER, RYAN BOSWELL, PAUL PRESTON, JAMES ISHMAIL, TOM POTTER, AYO OLUKOGA, RYAN MALLETT, JONATHAN ADEBAYO, CHINEDU MCKENZIE (NICK REYNOLDS 86), ASHER MODESTE, WILL GREEEN SUBS NOT USED MATT TOMS, ASHLEY BANKOLE, DANNY COSSINGTON & DAVID MANU

YELLOW CARD JAMES ISHMAIL 52