Erith & Belvedere 1 (1) - (0) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 83

Jamie Dicks was booked in the second minute of the game for a rash challenge as Erith started brightly with some neat attacking play leading to a Richard Morgan shot that was easily dealt with by Aaron Omand in the Boro goal. As the game progressed Romford got on top with Abs Seymour having a long range effort tipped around the post after a neat one two with Luke Stanley from a well worked free kick. On twenty minutes Lewis Francis did well down the right wing and fired in a low cross that found Kurt Smith, but his shot was deflected wide. Aaron Omand did well tipping over a long distance shot from Taylor Thomas on twenty-three minutes and then a minute later at the other end Kurt Smith danced into the penalty area before pulling the ball back to Abs Seymour who could only slice his kick wide of the near post. Against the run of play Erith took the lead when on thirty-five minutes a deep corner found Aiden Sherlock and his downward header into a crowd of players somehow found its way into the Boro net. Five minutes before half time Kurt Smith thought he had got Romford back on level terms but his neat finish was correctly ruled out for offside.

Romford were once again on top in the second half but failed to create any clear cut chances until Paul Clayton found space in the penalty area but his looping header from a Jamie Dicks cross sailed agonisingly over. On sixty-seven minutes Romford claimed a penalty when Kurt Smith was bundled to the floor in the box but the referee played on and moments later the same player was body checked when he turned his marker but once again the referee saw nothing. George Woodward sent a header inches wide when he got on the end of Luke Stanley's free kick and Ade Adeniyi flashed a shot across the Boro goal for Erith. After some pathetic play acting from the Erith goalkeeper who was constantly time wasting throughout the second half the game went into ten minutes of injury time. Luck did not seem to be on Romford's side when Ryan Imbert turned and curled a beautiful effort over Jack Bradshaw but just before the ball hit the back of the net the referee blew up and pulled the play back for an earlier foul to Romford and left the visitors fuming as Lewis Francis could only fire the free kick over the bar. As the clock ticked into the ninth minute of added time Romford earned a corner and threw everyone forward. Lewis Francis took it and could only pick out the Erith defender at the near post but somehow he missed the ball and it squeezed into the goal. It was no more than Romford deserved and sent the Boro faithful home with a smile on their face.

ERITH & BELVEDERE 1 SHERLOCK 35
ROMFORD 1 LEWIS FRANCIS 90+9

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, DAVID OTTLEY (JOE OATES 89), GEORGE WOODWARD, SCOTT TRUMAN, JAMES ISHMAIL, PAUL CLAYTON, JAMIE DICKS (ROBBIE NORRIS 65), ABS SEYMOUR, KURT SMITH, LEWIS FRANCIS, LUKE STANLEY (RYAN IMBERT 78). SUBS NOT USED ATU NGOY.

YELLOW CARDS: JAMIE DICKS, ABS SEYMOUR.