Great Wakering Rovers 1 (1) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 147 - Burroughs Park

The Boro got off to a bad start when a John Easterford header from a corner was deflected past Calum Chafer and into the net in the sixth minute of the match. From then on though, the first half was all Romford with Jamie Dicks having a free kick saved in the eighth minute, then two minutes later Will Green went on a typical mazy run before curling an effort towards goal that was well saved. Dicks again went close, McKenzie's low cross was nearly turned in by a defender and Ryan Mallett curled a shot just the wrong side of the post with the keeper beaten. In the twenty-second minute Ryan Boswell drilled in a free kick that was met by a Dicks header but the keeper was well positioned to save before Romford finally got back on level terms in the twenty-sixth minute. They won a soft free kick about thirty five yards from goal and the chip into the box was cleared high up in the air to the right of the penalty area. McKenzie positioned his body in between the dropping ball and defender and as it bounced, the inform Boro striker produced an acrobatic overhead kick that caught the keeper by surprise before nestling into the back of the net. Six minutes before half time Romford nearly took the lead when a corner was cleared to Tarren Dhariwel and the fullback's curling efforts was headed by Danny Cossington onto the underside of the bar and down into the goalmouth before being scrambled out, and the linesman did not signal that it had crossed the line.

It was now Boro's turn to kick up the slope in the second half, and with the rain pouring down both teams struggled in the torrid conditions giving the ball away, and many players had issues keeping their feet on the greasy surface. James Ishmail playing in a more advanced role won the ball in midfield, danced round two players before driving forward and after a quick one-two fired just over the bar. On the hour a hopeful cross from the hosts nearly caught Chafer out but the ball bounced off the bar and Boswell was on hand to clear. Neither team really created much more in front of goal until the eighty-third minute when a mistake in the Romford defence allowed a Wakering forward to break down the left wing and his cross was perfect, but Jake Gordon headed wide from six yards with the goal gaping. Two minutes later and Romford nearly won it when Ryan Mallett's pass found substitute Ayo Olukoga whose cross was met by McKenzie's head but keeper Matt Belcher produced a stunning save to keep the scores level before the referee brought the game to an end.

Next up Romford are home to Bowers and Pitsea in midweek and manager Paul Martin will hope he can celebrate his 450th game in charge with a win.

GREAT WAKERING ROVER (1) 1 JOHN EASTERFORD 6,

ROMFORD (1) 1 CHINEDU MCKENZIE 26

ROMFORD: CALUM CHAFER, JONATHAN ADEBAYO, TARREN DHARIWEL, RYAN BOSWELL, MATT TOMS, DANNY COSSINGTON (CHRIS TAYLOR 80), RYAN MALLETT, JAMES ISHMAIL, CHINEDU MCKENZIE, WILL GREEN (AYO OLUKOGA 68), JAMIE DICKS (ASHLEY BANKOLE 79) SUBS NOT USED NICK REYNOLDS & RICHARD WRAY

YELLOW CARD: JAMIE DICKS 68