Potters Bar Town 1(1) v Romford 2 (1) - Attendance 81

It was Boro who launched the first serious attack with Paul Clayton being just too high with his header from a Paul Kavanagh corner. Just after this Chris Doyle for the Scholars broke through on the right only to shoot hurriedly wide of visiting keeper Danny Mulrooney’s right hand post.

This was followed by two further chances for Romford but Jack Barry’s final touch let him down and Kurt Smith’s one on one effort ended up high and wide.

On 13 minutes came the first goal of the game when Boro’s Smith again weaved into the home penalty area only to be pulled down by home ‘keeper Matt Bennett. Kavanagh made no mistake with his spot kick.

The visitors held their lead for only two minutes as Potters Bar went level when their number 8 Joe O’Brien fed a good ball through to Jordan Watson who scored with a hard low shot.

Each keeper did his bit to keep the scores level until half time although there were good chances for both sides. Barry shot from too far out for Romford and his team mate Smith failed with his next good effort while Scholars’ Watson got through again to bring out a superb save from Mulrooney and Dennis Paratusic got the ball into his opponents net but was ruled to be offside.

The major part of the second period produced no goals but plenty of end to end action as both sides strove to get a second goal and potential winner.

Potters Bar’s O’Brien brought out two excellent point blank saves from Mulrooney when he looked as if he must score and his colleague Chris Doyle went just wide with his effort while Smith went just wide for Romford again.

Finally just before the ninety minute mark the visitors got their second goal and all three points when Smith worked down the left hand side to feed the ball back to Kavanagh and Chris Thomas’s long leg was the first to reach a hard low cross and stab the ball through a crowd of players into the Scholars’ net.

This was another strong and cohesive performance by the Boro with James Ishmail and Brad Falco, making their debuts because of a number of injuries and suspensions, fitting in well. Special mention must be also made of ‘keeper Danny Mulrooney who made critical saves in each half to keep his team in the game.

Romford squad: Mulrooney, Barry, Neville, Ishmail, Toms, Clayton, Thomas, Jones (Oxby 66), Smith, Falco, Kavanagh. Subs not used: O’Connor, Protheroe and Mathews (GK).

Boro’s next game is Tuesday evening March 23rd at home to Enfield Town and the following Saturday, March 27th, they visit Northwood.