ROMFORD 2(1) - (0) 0 Aveley Attendance 134 - Rookery Hill

By Gary Redwin

Romford bounced back brilliantly from Saturday's disappointing defeat to register a thoroughly deserved victory over second placed Aveley.

This match was a great advert for the Bostik North, played at a fast pace by two totally committed sides and all action from start to finish. Paul Martin named the same squad that had travelled to Felixstowe but with a couple changes in the actual starting line up, Jamie MARSH and Ernest OKOH in for George Forrest and Nathan Okoye to give it a slightly more attacking look.

A lively start saw Aveley putting the Romford defence under most of the early pressure before Taylor TOMBIDES went very near for Boro in the tenth minute.The home team were then disrupted soon after as Tombides had to limp off and his replacement Max BOLTON failed to convert a golden opportunity on the half hour, miskicking after being set up by Greg AKPELE's mazy run and pinpoint cross. However the young striker did lot allow this to affect him as only a few minutes later he received a wonderful defence splitting pass from Jonathan NZENGO and immediately drilled an accurate strike across the Aveley keeper and into the far corner of the net. In between times the game had flowed back and forth with both defences and keepers called into action on numerous occasions by both sets of forwards before the half time whistle allowed the players and well entertained spectators to draw a breath.

Romford knew that it would not be a good idea just to try and sit on their lead and they attempted to hit Aveley early on. When Okoh could only be stopped unfairly Nzengo's free kick caused an almighty scramble in the box before Chris TAYLOR spun in the rebound which the keeper just managed to fist clear. Aveley came back and forced Rhys HUGHES into two good saves before Boro then went further ahead after fifty four minutes. Record scorer Nick REYNOLDS lead the line well all night and his run into the box perfectly anticipated Nzengo's low cross from the right which he finished with a cheeky flick with the inside of his heel.

The visitors now stepped up the pressure more and more to try and get back into the game but some heroic defending by the Romford back line, marshalled by skipper Danny COSSINGTON alongside young Jamie MARSH kept them at bay and they were helped by the non stop running and closing down by their team mates further up the pitch. The attack did not let the Aveley defence settle either and could have extended the lead further with Akpele especially causing huge problems with his full repertoire of dribbles and step overs. As the game drew to a close Aveley were still not giving up the points lightly with Hughes being forced into action but it was not to be their night and Romford were able to preserve their perfect home league record with a win against a very good Millers side.

Romford (1) 2 Max BOLTON 35, Nick REYNOLDS 54
Aveley (0) 0

Romford: Rhys HUGHES, Ayo OLUKOGA, Jonathan NZENGO, Jamie MARSH, Kurt SMITH (Nathan JOSEPH 27), Danny COSSINGTON (C), Chris TAYLOR, Ernest OKOH, (Khadean CAMPBELL 90), Nick REYNOLDS, Taylor TOMBIDES (Max BOLTON 13), Greg AKPELE
Unused Subs: George Forrest, Nathan Okoye