ROMFORD 2 (1) - (1) 2 Chatham Town Attendance 71

The match was played at a fast tempo with both teams looking to attack, making for a very open game which was a great spectacle. Chatham nearly opened the scoring on five minutes when Austin Gacheru flashed a shot across the goal after bursting through the Romford defence and four minutes later at the other end Tom Richardson whipped in a cross to Ryan Imbert who was a stud length away from giving Boro the lead. Chatham did go ahead on eleven minutes when Alfie May raced onto a long ball and looped the ball over Atu Ngoy's head and into the net. Shortly after Abs Seymour had two chances to equalise for Romford but his free kick was saved and another shot minutes later ended up in the back of the stand after great work by Joe Oates bombing forward from left back. On twenty-two minutes Romford deservedly got back in the game when David Ottley sent in a deep cross to the far post where Ryan Imbert fantastically kept the ball in play, heading it back across goal to Tom Richardson who belted the ball home from two yards. Tom Richardson nearly doubled his tally on twenty-six minutes but volleyed a Joe Oates cross just wide after making space at the far post and Ryan Imbert correctly had a goal ruled out for offside on forty minutes. Just before half time Chatham centre back Corey Holder limped off with a painful stomach injury that proved serious enough for an ambulance to be called and we wish the player a swift recovery.
Chatham nearly took the lead five minutes into the second half when Andy Constable headed wide before the visitors had two goals chalked off for offside in a matter of minutes and also had a third later in the half. On fifty-six minutes more great work from Ryan Imbert down the left wing led to a chance for Tom Richardson six yards out but as the striker was about to fire home the ball was nicked off his toes and cleared for a corner. Romford did take the lead on sixty minutes when Joe Oates feigned to put the ball into the box from a free kick and instead played a short pass to Abs Seymour who let the ball run across him before shooting low into the bottom right hand corner. Romford were now on top and Chatham were rattled picking up many yellow cards in the process and Romford could have had a penalty when substitute Lewis Francis got to a through ball before keeper Jack Bradshaw and was clipped, but the young striker decided to stay on his feet and the chance was gone. This proved costly for the Boro as from the goal kick the ball found it's way to May who rounded Atu Ngoy and fired home to make it two apiece. Chatham were reduced to ten men when Taylor McDonagh was booked for fouls about a minute apart but Romford could not create another clear cut chance before the referee brought the entertaining game to an end.

ROMFORD 2 TOM RICHARDSON 22, ABS SEYMOUR 60
CHATHAM TOWN 2 ALFIE MAY 11, 80

ROMFORD: ATU NGOY, DAVID OTTLEY, JOE OATES, GEORGE WOODWARD, JAMES ISHMAIL, PAUL CLAYTON, ABS SEYMOUR, JAMIE DICKS, RYAN IMBERT (LEWIS FRANCIS 78), TOM RICHARDSON, EDDIE HART. SUBS NOT USED AARON OMAND, ELLIOTT LONG, REECE TRANTER, MICHAEL SAMMUT.

YELLOW CARDS: JAMES ISHMAIL 90+2