Redbridge 2 (1) v Romford 0 (0) - Attendance 131

Redbridge deserved their win by being generally the sharper of the two sides, but two offside verdicts, one given and one not, had a strong influence on the final scoreline too.

With the advantage of a gusty swirling wind behind them and a strong sun in the eyes of their opposing defenders the home side quickly took the game to Romford for most of the first half.

Redbridge went into the club house at half time one to nil up which was all they had to show for a number of attacks and corners from both flanks.

This goal was scored early on after when Mark Nougher headed in from a right wing cross on seven minutes to finish a move which started from a clearly offside position.

Boro started off the second half determined to get something back and put the home side’s defence under siege with crosses and long throws from both wings but the nearest they got was a clearance off the Redbridge goal line during a wild scramble in which all outfield members of both teams seemed to be involved.

The home side for their part seemed to master playing into an adverse wind better than their opponents. Although they had to defend desperately at times, just like their visitors had in the first half, they always looked dangerous on the break.

It was from one of these such forays into the Romford half that Redbridge extended their lead to 2-0 on 67 minutes when Wayne Grant outdistanced his markers with a through ball and gave his opposing ‘keeper Danny Mulrooney no chance with a rising right footed drive.

Although Boro continued to press for a goal and rained in shots from many angles nothing was dangerously on target and they would have gone three goals down had Redbridge’s Steve Good not miss-kicked a clear chance right in front of goal with only Mulrooney to beat.

The game went in to four minutes of added time and Kurt Smith eventually netted for the visitors when he ran from behind his marker on to a lob from substitute Kieran Singh but was judged to be offside.

That misfortune seemed to reinforce the visiting supporters’ thinking that this definitely wasn’t going to be their team’s day and the final whistle blew shortly afterwards with them still 2-0 down to confirm this.

Romford squad: Mulrooney, Barry, Neville (Pearman 46), Ishmail, Toms, Clayton, Thomas (Singh 82), Senghore, Smith, Falco (Cossons 75) , Edmunds. Subs not used:, Lord and Mathews (GK).

Boro’s next game is this coming Saturday, April 10th, when they entertain Maldon Town.