Maldon & Tiptree 5 (2) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 112 - Wallace Binder Stadium

Boro were forced into a change even before a ball was kicked when Danny Cossington injured himself in the warm up but James Ishmail was on hand to step in at centre back. In an even first half that Romford may have just edged Liam Nash went close for the Jammers before the visitors took the lead in the fifteenth minute when a long ball was misjudged, giving Nick Reynolds the chance to run into the box before setting up Ryan Boswell, who scored at the second attempt after his first effort was saved. They then had a big penalty shout turned down, before some slick passing on the edge of the box allowed Sam Newson to get in behind the Romford defence and around Callum Chafer to score the equaliser. Reynolds sent in an excellent cross that was only inches too far ahead of Charlie Portway on a ground where his father Steve made his Romford debut nearly 21 years ago. In the thirty-third minute Hayes Thomas sent in a dangerous free kick that was flicked on by a home defender and went agonisingly past the far post and then from the resulting corner the Jammers keeper knew his luck was in when he made a mess of a punch, but somehow the ball fell kindly straight into his arms with three Boro players lurking. Against the run of play Maldon took the lead when a quick counter attack allowed Newson to set up Adam Mills to tap home from six yards eight minutes before half time.

Romford had to make an early second half change when Portway limped off and was replaced by Jamie Dicks before they fell further behind in the sixty-third minute. A ball was flicked on for Mills to run through and shoot for goal, but after Chafer made a fantastic save the ball ran kindly back to the Maldon forward allowing him to pass it into the empty net and a minute later and it was four - one and a hat trick for Mills when he shot across goal and into the bottom corner. Romford battled on and substitute Will Green should have reduced the deficit but after racing onto a through ball his weak shot was easily saved. Deep into injury time Maldon put the jam on the scone when the ball again ran kindly and Tyler Brampton smashed home to end a very disappointing day for Boro and a four goal losing margin that did not reflect the balance of the play.

MALDON & TIPTREE (2) 5 NEWSON 26, MILLS 37, 63,64, BRAMPTON 90+3

ROMFORD (1) 1 RYAN BOSWELL 15

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER, HAYES THOMAS, PAUL PRESTON, JAMES ISHMAIL, TOM POTTER, JONATHAN ADEBAYO, RYAN MALLETT, RYAN BOSWELL, NICK REYNOLDS (CHINEDU MCKENZIE 84), CHARLIE PORTWAY (JAMIE DICKS 58), DAVID MANU (WILL GREEN 73) SUBS NOT USED MATT TOMS, ASHLEY BANKOLE

YELLOW CARD: CALLUM CHAFER 77