ROMFORD 0 - 0 Cheshunt Attendance 66

After three straight league defeats Boro fielded three new signings including Chuck Duru returning from Harlow. By contrast Cheshunt have been on a good run of form recently and as early as the 2nd minute had a decent chance which was put over the bar. Boro replied soon after when a good move ended with diminutive new signing Jeffrey Campbell heading wide.
On 13 minutes Nick Reynolds caught a glimpse of goal and fired just over with the keeper beaten and two minutes later there was a chance at the other end with a Cheshunt header going wide of the post.
Romford continued to attack well down the flanks with full backs Dave Ottley and Joe Oates both recently back after injuries, giving great support to Chuck Duru on the right and Kurt Smith on the left.
Paul Clayton playing at centre back was wasting no opportunity to get forward and after 25 minutes headed Kurt's Smith corner just over after Nick Reynolds' powerful shot had been pushed around the post by the Cheshunt keeper.
Reynolds again drew a save from the keeper after 41 minutes following Joe Oates' well placed free kick and then right on half time came a controversial incident that may have cost Boro victory. A Cheshunt defender was booked for a foul on Jeffrey Campbell and Tyler Christian-Law's free kick was cleverly bent low to the near post and only just scrambled clear by the keeper. Nick Reynolds lobbed it back into the goalmouth, Kurt Smith headed on and Paul Clayton's diving header hit the back of the net. Romford's celebrations were cut short by the linesman's offside flag but he had appeared not to notice a defender whose impetus had taken him wide of the goal and seemed to be playing everyone onside by standing half off and half on the pitch.
Like the first half Cheshunt again started the second period well causing a couple of anxious moments to the Romford defence. Boro were also creating chances and most seemed to be falling to Jeffrey Campbell but he was having no luck in front of goal, beating the keeper but being wide of the target.
On 67 minutes there was a flurry of substitutions by both teams with Romford bringing on wide men Lewis Francis and Aime Blessing for Chuck Duru and Nick Reynolds which also allowed Kurt Smith to revert to his more familiar striker's role. But five minutes later the referee who had previously had a very good game seemed to remember that he had not issued Romford with any of their mandatory yellow cards and showed one to a bemused Kurt Smith after he himself had been fouled and then replied with the gentlest of fouls on the original offender.
After 80 minutes Aime Blessing's shot hit James Ishmail in the area but the ball bounced up kindly for the Boro defender allowing him to head powerfully towards goal and draw a good save from the keeper which left Ishmail still looking for his elusive first goal for Romford.
Four minutes later Atu Ngoy himself had to save well from a Cheshunt free kick and the game ended with both teams still going for the winner right up to the final whistle.

ROMFORD 0
CHESHUNT 0

ROMFORD: Atu Ngoy, David Ottley, Joe Oates, James Ishmail, Chuck Duru (Aime Blessing), Paul Clayton, Michael Sammut, Tyler Christian-Law, Nick Reynolds (Lewis Francis), Jeffrey Campbell, Kurt Smith

Unused Substitutes: Billy Hunt, Jamie Dicks, Lewis Payne

Yellow Card: Kurt Smith 72,

Match Report by Phil Redwin