Romford 0 - 0 Brentwood Town - Attendance 117

Kurt Smith could have scored for Romford on 18 minutes when put through on the right but couldn’t get the ball past his opposing ‘keeper who beat his shot away and ten minutes later Brentwood’s Emanuel Osei’s lob cleared both the home ‘keeper and his crossbar too with a lob attempt from thirty yards out.

Unfortunately Smith was also the victim of several very heavy tackles which eventually caused him to have to be substituted by Chris Richardson on 34 minutes. Subsequent hospital examination showed him to have suffered a broken fibula which it is estimated will keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks.

When they had their moments the Blues were guilty of some profligate final shots although Lamar Johnson in the home goal and his defence did a good job in keeping them a bay too while, at the other end, the Boro pressed from time to time without any success.

Five minutes before half time Boro’s Abs Seymour tried a fierce left footed cross shot from the left which had Elliott Justham, in his opponents’ goal, grasping at thin air but just missed the target by going wide of the far goal angle.

As the second half developed it became clear that a single goal might win the match with mostly long range shooting being employed at each end and when half chances arose nearer goal both sides were guilty of hurried or off target shooting.

But ultimately both defences won the day and the teams had to settle for a goalless point each as the final whistle blew after three minutes of added time.

Romford squad: Johnson; Ottley; Kavanagh; Clayton ©; Ishmail; Seymour; Lee (Mackin 75); J.Barry; Smith (Richardson 34); Reynolds (Toms 87); Oates. Unused substitutes: Long and Anderson (GK).

FULL LEAGUE RESULTS -

AFC Sudbury 1 - 0 Waltham Abbey

Enfield Town 3 - 0 Soham Town Rangers

Great Wakering Rovers 2 - 3 Chatham Town

Heybridge Swifts 1 - 0 Ware

Needham Market 2 - 1 Grays Athletic

Potters Bar Town 0 - 0 Waltham Forest

Romford 0 - 0 Brentwood Town

Tilbury 2 - 1 Cheshunt

FA Trophy – 3rd Round

Harlow Town 1 - 2 Lowestoft Town

Maldon & Tiptree 0 - 1 Carshalton Athletic

Redbridge 1 - 2 East Thurrock United

Thamesmead Town 2 - 2 Welling United