Thurrock 1 (1) - (1) 2 ROMFORD Attendance 184 - Ship Lane

Romford started the stronger, with Ryan Imbert firing just over after muscling his way through on two minutes and Paul Clayton headed inches wide of the far post from a Chris Barry corner seven minutes later. On eighteen minutes the Boro deservedly took the lead when Chris Barry chipped the ball over the home defence for Ryan Imbert to take the ball around the on rushing keeper before putting it into the empty net. Thurrock started to attack more and ex-Romford favourite Kurt Smith went on a strong run before firing low but Atu Ngoy got down to save well on twenty-four minutes. Three minutes later and Eddie Hart had a shot saved by the Thurrock keeper after a good turn. Thurrock had another few chances go wide before equalising on thirty-eight minutes when David Knight set up Bradley Warner who fired low into the bottom corner. Romford nearly regained the lead moments later but no one could get on the end of Daniel Jones's low cross before the referee brought the even first half to an end.

Thurrock kicked off the second half and were well on top in the opening period with Knight twice going close. On sixty minutes the hosts nearly got ahead but Atu Ngoy made a fine save denying the Fleet forward who had made space at the far post. Smith fired just wide after cutting in from the right hand wing on sixty-four minutes but four minutes later and against the run of play Romford took the lead. After earning a corner on the left Chris Barry swung the ball in deep with Paul Clayton flicking it on to Scott Truman who turned and shot goalwards finding Ryan Imbert on the line to poke the ball home. Thurrock continued to attack but rarely threatened the Romford goal with only a Knight free kick that went just the wrong side of the post. Romford substitutes Joe Oates and Tom Richardson combined late on but the latter could only send the ball over the bar after keeper Andy Walker did well to narrow the angle. Romford kept the ball well in the dying moment allowing little chance for their landlords to set up any meaningful attacks before the final whistle blew giving the Boro another great win.

THURROCK (1) 1 WARNER 38.

ROMFORD (1) 2 RYAN IMBERT 18, 68.

ROMFORD: ATU NGOY, DAVID OTTLEY, JAMIE DICKS, SCOTT TRUMAN, JAMES ISHMAIL, PAUL CLAYTON, CHRIS BARRY (JOE OATES 79), ABS SEYMOUR, EDDIE HART (TOM RICHARDSON 69), RYAN IMBERT (NICK REYNOLDS 90+2), DANIEL JONES. SUBS NOT USED AARON OMAND, GEORGE WOODWARD.

YELLOW CARDS: JAMIE DICKS 14, PAUL CLAYTON 42, ABS SEYMOUR 62, NICK REYNOLDS 90+3.