Maldon & Tiptree 0 (0) - (0) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 94

The match was played with a swirling gale disrupting both teams but Romford fared better and quickly set up camp in the Maldon half. Tom Richardson fired over the bar on three minutes after a neat passing move from the Boro forwards before receiving some hefty challenges that forced him to require treatment on more than one occasion. Ryan Imbert shot wide on seven minutes from the edge of the area and Paul Clayton had a long distance drive blocked. Eddie Hart could have opened the scoring twice in three minutes for Romford firstly, volleying straight at the keeper after David Ottley's cross was only half cleared to him on twenty-five minutes and then moments later his diving header from an Abs Seymour cross flew just over the bar. Another hefty challenge on Tom Richardson lead to the attacker being replaced by Joe Oates ten minutes before the break and it was the substitute who had a chance just on half time but his long range effort was easily saved by Jason Willis in the Maldon goal.
Rain joined the wind for the second half and despite playing against the swirling force Romford still kept the pressure on Maldon restricting the hosts to few chances, but one of these could have been the game's first goal when Chris Bryan ran down the left and crossed for Aaron Condon who sliced the ball wide when he should have done better on fifty minutes. Two minutes later and it was Romford who were close to the opener when Ryan Imbert produced a great cross from the left wing that just eluded Eddie Hart at the far post. On fifty-seven minutes Romford earned a corner that Abs Seymour took short to Joe Oates who in turn laid it onto Abs Seymour, giving the midfielder a chance to drive into the box where he was brought down and the referee correctly pointed to the spot. Paul Clayton stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home to give Boro a one nil lead. Lewis Francis had a shot cleared off the line after lobbing the keeper on sixty-seven minutes and that proved to be the game's last real chance with Maldon pumping the ball forward and Romford easily holding out for a well earned victory.

MALDON & TIPTREE 0
ROMFORD 1 PAUL CLAYTON PEN 57

ROMFORD: ATU NGOY, DAVID OTTLEY, GEORGE WOODWARD, SCOTT TRUMAN, JAMES ISHMAIL, PAUL CLAYTON, JAMIE DICKS, ABS SEYMOUR, RYAN IMBERT (REECE TRANTER 84), TOM RICHARDSON (JOE OATES 35), EDDIE HART (LEWIS FRANCIS 65). SUBS NOT USED: MICHAEL SAMMUT

YELLOW CARDS: PAUL CLAYTON 76, JAMIE DICKS 83.