Dereham Town 2 (1) - (2) 3 ROMFORD Attendance 128 - Aldiss Park

Paul Martin changed his formation after Tuesday's defeat on the frozen pitch at Brentwood with Kai Bichard playing in a more advanced role just behind lone striker Chinedu McKenzie, but it was at the back where Romford decided to make things hard for themselves by gifting the hosts a goal inside seven minutes. A long ball forward looked to being easily dealt with by Ryan Mallett at the back but as he tried to head back to Callum Chafer in the Romford goal he did not get enough power on the ball and Joe Gatting nipped in first and lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net. Despite this set back Romford were by far the better team throughout the first half and nearly equalised four minutes later when Greg Akpele's deep cross was spilt by the home keeper but Akwasi Marfo could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle. The Boro were playing some beautiful football but could not find a reward for their hard work and after another good move Jonathan Adebayo blazed high and wide from twenty yards. The goal aside, Dereham had rarely threatened until they won a corner in the twenty-sixth minute and the resulting powerful free header was cleared off the line by Ryan Boswell and from the second corner another free header went straight to Chafer. In the thirty-third minute Jamie Dicks crossed for McKenzie who flicked on to Akpele and after the winger side stepped his man his low shot was beaten away. Four minutes before half time Romford won a throw that Bichard sent in long but the chance looked to have gone when Marfo fell on the ball but somehow he shuffled about whilst still on the ground and got it to Adebayo who in one movement turned and curled the ball left footed into the top corner of the net. Romford were not finished there and on the stroke of half time Marfo raced down the left wing and sent in a lovely cross to Bichard who had ghosted in behind his marker to glance a header into the far corner.

Despite Romford's dominance in the first period it was all square five minutes into the second half when Gatting beat Chafer to a near post corner to head the ball home. Dereham had upped their game but the visitors continued to push forward and McKenzie fired low but just wide of the goal before Dereham's Rhys Logan received a straight red card for a high foot on Chafer who was out of his goal heading the ball away in the sixty-third minute. In the past Romford have often struggled against ten men but on this occasion took full advantage of their numerical advantage using the wide pitch at Aldiss Park to stretch the home team by mounting attacks down the wings. They eventually grabbed what turned out to be the winner in the seventy-third minute when Marfo crossed from the left wing to McKenzie and his goalward header was poked home by Akpele. McKenzie twice had good chances to extend Boro's lead but was thwarted by good defending on once occasion and a great reflex save moments later when his powerful shot from eight yards was somehow tipped wide. Chafer, who had been in the wars was on the end of another strong challenge and went down injured again to jeers from the home fans which they may have regretted when he was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg. Thankfully, later reports were that it may only be bad bruising and it will be hoped that the Boro keeper who has been outstanding all season will soon be back in action. Romford were forced to bring on striker Nick Reynolds in goal but the record goalscorer is a very capable deputy between the sticks and had little to do as Romford easily saw out the eight minutes of added time to grab the valuable and fully deserved three points.

DEREHAM TOWN (1) 2 GATTING 7, 50

ROMFORD (2) 3 JONATHAN ADEBAYO 41, KAI BICHARD 44, GREG AKPELE 73

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER (NICK REYNOLDS 84), RYAN BOSWELL, JAMIE DICKS, DANNY COSSINGTON, RYAN MALLETT, CHRIS BARRY (AYO OLUKOGA 84), JONATHAN ADEBAYO, GREG AKPELE, CHINEDU MCKENZIE, KAI BICHARD (CHRIS TAYLOR 90+6), AKWASI MARFO SUBS NOT USED JAMES ISHMAIL & JACK BROWN-SYKES

YELLOW CARD: GREG AKPEKE 81