Maldon & Tiptree 1 (1) – 1 (1) Romford – Attendance 85

The game started with Boro winning the toss and, with the advantage of a strongish wind at their backs, they mounted the first serious attacks on their opponents’ goal.

They won a number of corner kicks but it was from a nine minute Kurt Smith curving free kick left footed just outside home penalty area hit hard into the area that they scored the first goal of this contest. Joe Wright in the Blues goal was unable to hold on to this and as it bounced up to a group of waiting Boro players Paul Clayton got it into the back of the home net with Nick Reynolds following it in to make sure.

The visitors continued to look the more threatening and five minutes later a Smith run down the left and pass gave Reynolds a good chance which he wasn’t able to convert.

Romford continued to push to add to their score and thought they had gained a penalty when Reynolds was pushed over in the home area but the officials denied his and his teams’ appeals.

Not to say that Maldon & Tiptree weren’t trying hard to get back into the game and on 29 minutes came their best chance so far which Lee Boylan hit wide and one minute later another home attempt hit a Boro upright but was cleared to safety by Jack Barry.

Play continued hard and fast and yet another chance fell to Maldon but it was James Robinson who was well off target with his attempt this time.

As half time approached a Romford move between Smith and Tom Richardson failed to beat the home defence and just after this Maldon got a hotly disputed equalising goal. The ball was crossed from the right and Boro keeper Atu Ngoy stretching up to collect appeared to be pushed while doing so. The ball went loose and was eventually poked into the visitors net by Ollie Berquez. Once again Romford appeals were ignored by the officials and just after this the half time whistle blew with the home team having obtained a controversial equaliser.

Play started in the second half with both teams having it all to play for. Romford appeared not to be bothered too much by the wind now favouring their opponents but it was the home team who had the first chance straight after the break with Boylan once again failing to get his shot on target.

A short while after this Boro won a free kick in a dangerous position but were unable to capitalise on this and it was then the home side’s turn to test their opponents’ defence but from a right wing free kick Glen Golby’s attempt went harmlessly over the top

Half way into the second period came with both sides continuing to strive for that all elusive winning goal and once again the Blues’ Robinson failed to score from probably the best Maldon & Tiptree chance of the game when he had a clear chance at the back of the Boro penalty area but his quickly taken shot was well over the crossbar.

Just after this Tom Richardson collected the ball and sped off towards the home goal but his shot was off target as was another attempt by Smith a minute or so later.

The home team, encouraged by their vociferous support, mounted a number of attacks but they all foundered on a resolute Romford defence and mid-field and as full time loomed it seemed that it might be the visitors who were more likely to score the winner as they broke away and bore down on the home goal a number of times.

From these counter attacks Clayton headed over from a Smith corner on the right and Tyler Christian-Law failed to get on target as well but it was substitute Aime Blessing with his fresh pair of legs, aided by Keiran English who had come on to lead the line in place of Reynolds joining Smith in a three up forward formation, who caused a tiring home defence the most problems twisting and turning through them again and again and at one time managing to work his way from the half way into his opponents’ penalty area but just not managing to get a clear sight on his opposing goal for that final crucial shot.

So this pulsating match finished all square when, after three minutes of added time the final whistle blew.

MALDON & TIPREE 1 BERQUEZ 43
ROMFORD 1 CLAYTON 9

ROMFORD: ATU NGOY,DAVID OTTLEY, JOE OATES, JACK BARRY, JAMIE DICKS, PAUL CLAYTON, MICHAEL SAMMUT, TYLER CHRISTIAN-LAW, NICK REYNOLDS (KIERAN ENGLISH 60), TOM RICHARDSON (AIME BLESSING 75), KURT SMITH. SUBS NOT USED: LEWIS PAYNE, AARON OMAND.

YELLOW CARD JAMIE DICKS