Romford 0 (0) v Ilford 0 (0) - Attendance 109

Play favoured the home side early on with them mounting a number of attacks. A Paul Kavanagh free kick from the right touchline was put over the Ilford bar by Chris Thomas and then a Martin Heed shot from a Toran Senghore touch back was deflected into the visiting keeper’s hands.

Ilford then enjoyed a short advantage of play before Boro came back again but a Senghore shot from a good position was blocked and this was followed by two consecutive Foxes’ corners

Then Heed took a Senghore through ball and drilled a low raking ground shot which was just palmed past his right upright by visiting keeper Pape Diagne. The Foxes’ custodian incurred an injury from this save from which he subsequently seemed to suffer for the rest of the game but kept a pair of safe hands despite his discomfort.

The period up to the half time break was then mostly notable for a number of free kicks for both teams but both keepers and stout defending prevented any scoring although Matt Toms when close with a header which just cleared the visitors’ crossbar.

In the early minutes of the second half an Ilford cross shot from the left whistled across the home goal with Neil Finn only able to watch it go past his far upright but this narrow escape was the prelude for a long period of Romford pressure on their visitors’ goal.

A Kurt Smith/Chris Thomas move ended with the former’s shot only being able to find the Foxes keeper and then Toms turned his shot over the bar and Heed went down going through into the penalty area but was not rewarded with a possible spot kick.

Smith again was three times unlucky after this when he just failed to reach a Kavanagh free kick from the right wing touchline, then his shot from a Thomas pass went just too wide and this was followed just after by a shot which bounced off the Ilford crossbar.

Kavanagh was then unlucky himself with a lob from a Senghore pass which, once again, managed to find the visitors’ crossbar and bounce away to safety.

In the latter minutes of the game, with Boro concentrating on all out attack, Ilford had several break opportunities only for Finn to get down well to make critical saves at his opponents’ feet.

The Foxes almost sneaked a win at the very end but their goal bound effort was cleared off the line by the home defence for a corner which the final whistle, after seven minutes of added time, prevented from being taken.

Romford Squad: Finn, Barry, Kavanagh, Truman, Toms, Gammons (Taylor 85), Port (Neville 68), Heed, Smith, Thomas, Senghore. Substitutes not used: Willis, Oxby, Mullrooney (GK).

Romford’s next two league fixtures are away to Thamesmead Town this coming Saturday January 9th followed by a home game with Enfield Town on Saturday January 16th . Both games with 3pm kick off times.