VCD Athletic 2 (2) - (2) 3 ROMFORD Attendance 48 - Old Road

With Paul Martin keeping the same team that beat Wroxham on Saturday Romford were hoping to build on that victory, but things did not start well when Kojo Awotwi received the ball on the right wing and beat his man before running into the box unopposed and then firing low past Callum Chafer in the third minute. Romford tried to react positively to this set back and straight from kick off Chinedu McKenzie raced down the right wing before pulling the ball back to Will Green but his shot was beaten away by stopper Connor Pearce. Mekhi McLeod had already gone close with a curling effort in the thirteenth minute but then less than sixty-seconds later the Boro defence did not heed the warning as they let him run in and curl a sublime effort past Chafer to put the hosts two up. Boro fans making up at least half of the small crowd were fearing the worst but the players had other ideas with Jonathan Adebayo going close before McKenzie pulled one back in the twenty-fifth minute, racing on to Danny Cossington's through ball and slotting home. The goal stood even though there could have been a suspicion of offside. To the bizarre sound of church bells from a nearby practice Akpele had a powerful header that went over, while at the other end a quick counter attack nearly lead to a third for VCD but with the goal beckoning Mitch Hahn fired wide from ten yards. That miss proved costly as in the thirty-second minute James Ishmail was given plenty of time to bring the ball out of defence and pick out Akpele's run and although the stylish Boro man looked a few yards offside, the flag once again stayed down and he turned cleverly and slotted the ball underneath the keeper and into the net. It could have been worse for VCD as a keeping error allowed McKenzie another run on goal but he was forced wide and another defender got back to make a tackle.

VCD were forced into a change at half time as Pearce was replaced by Niklas Freund (son of ex Spurs Steffan) in goal. Both teams continued their attacking policy but it was VCD who had the two best chances early on when Chafer's punch from a corner fell to Kris Newby twenty-five yards from goal and his first time effort was heading for the top corner until Chafer dived across his goal to claw the ball wide, and then an acrobatic effort from prolific striker Jamie Guy went just over. It was a great save from the Boro keeper but from then on he did not have a great deal to do apart from routine collections of hopeful long balls as Romford took a grip on the game. With twenty minutes left Akwasi Marfo was introduced into the action and it only took the winger a minute to make an impact. He picked the ball up on the left wing and beat his man at speed before crossing into the six yard box where Greg Akpele's shot was initially blocked but he was first to react to the loose ball, sliding in and turning past Freund and into the net. Marfo was flying and went close with a shot before another mazy run and cross set up McKenzie but the striker could not get enough contact on the ball. With three minutes left Marfo lead a counter attack and slipped in Kai Bichard but his shot was saved, then another run in injury time set up James Age who should have scored but his effort was going wide before Nick Reynolds turned the ball home but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside leaving the striker a little longer to wait for the reformed club's goalscoring record. After some added time in which VCD did not really threaten, the referee brought the game to an end making it two wins on the bounce for Boro who can hopefully take their good form into another relegation six pointer at Heybridge Swifts on Saturday.

VCD ATHLETIC (2) 2 AWOTWI 3, MCLEOD 14

ROMFORD (2) 3CHINEDU MCKENZIE 25, GREG AKPELE 32,71

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER, RYAN BOSWELL, JAMIE DICKS, DANNY COSSINGTON, JAMES ISHMAIL, KAI BICHARD, JONATHAN ADEBAYO, GREG AKPELE (JAMES AGE 82), CHINEDU MCKENZIE, NICK REYNOLDS (CHRIS TAYLOR 90), WILL GREEN (AKWASI MARFO 70) SUBS NOT USED AYO OLUKOGA & RYAN MALLETT

YELLOW CARDS: JAMIE DICKS 42, KAI BICHARD 53