Wingate & Finchley 6 (1) v Romford 2 (1) - Attendance 82

The home side had the better of the early exchanges as the much changed visitors got used to their roles but after a number of attacks at each end it was Romford who took the lead on a quarter of an hour when central defender Paul White rose at the far post to plant a header across the Blues’ keeper into the net from a Bobby Port free kick.
After this play continued end to end until, on 40 minutes, some casual Boro defensive play gifted their hosts an equaliser. Romford keeper Neil Finn was left stranded and the Blues’ Dave Laird shot towards an empty goal only for Boro’s right back Jack Barry, in his last ditch efforts to stop the ball going into his goal, to divert it with an outstretched arm. For this Barry received a straight red card and Wingate a penalty which Jordan Fowler converted into Finn’s top right net to make the score 1-1 which remained as such until half time.
Romford came the nearest to scoring after the restart when a snap shot from Kurt Smith went just wide but on 55 minutes came a defining moment which greatly affected the efforts of ten man Boro to keep the match score at parity.
A Blues forward attacking in the visitors’ penalty area was shepherded away from the goal and dispossessed with a sliding tackle but went down. The referee decreed that this should be another penalty although his assistant who was better placed to see did not signal nor agree with this decision on enquiry from Romford players.
The man in the middle refused to change his mind and the resulting penalty was taken by Fowler to give his side a 2-1 lead.
Despite being a man short against their opponents the visitors went on the attack immediately and equalised just two minutes later when Smith turned on the edge of the home area and hit a stunning first time left foot volley from a Port free kick into the Blues net.
With the scores level both sides endeavoured to take the lead and Boro competed well despite being one man short and went close when, from a Smith/Kavanagh/Nelson move Richard Oxby shot wide.
Just after this the visitors’ numbers were reduced even further down to nine men when White received a second yellow card and dismissal from the field for a seemingly innocent tackle similar to that when he received his first.
From this time on Romford played the rest of the game with great heart and to their great credit, never gave up but, continually under pressure, succumbed to a further goal from Rob Ursell on 62 minutes.
There was still time yet for a third home penalty three minutes later when a Wingate player was deemed to have been tripped on the left hand side of the area and Fowler scored his hat-trick to give his side a two goal lead.
Leon Smith took the score to 5-2 on 81 minutes and then Boro’s Remi Nelson went close to reducing the deficit from a George Tubey pass.
Just prior to the full ninety minutes the Blues took the final score to 6-2 against a tiring Romford defence when James Gershfield converted following a free kick.

Romford squad: Finn, Barry, Taylor, White, Willis (Truman 70), Port Tubey , Nelson, Oxby, Smith, Thomas, Kavanagh. Substitute not used: Mulrooney (GK).

Boro's next league match is at home to local neighbours East Thurrock United on Saturday December 5th and then they visit Harlow Town on Saturday December 12th.

Here are all of yesterday's league results and attendances!

0 0 Brentwood Town v Tilbury
Attendance 73

3 0 Concord Rangers v Harlow Town

East Thurrock United v Heybridge Swifts
(Abandoned due to floodlight failure.East Thurrock United leading 1-0)

1 2 Enfield Town v VCD Athletic
Attendance 205

8 0 Lowestoft Town v Leyton
Attendance 701

4 0 Maldon Town v Ilford
Attendance 65

1 0 Redbridge v Cheshunt
Attendance 48

2 0 Thamesmead Town v Northwood
Attendance 51

2 2 Waltham Forest v Great Wakering Rovers
Attendance 41

1 4 Ware v Potters Bar Town
Attendance 142

6 2 Wingate & Finchley v Romford
Attendance 82