AFC Sudbury 1 (0) - (2) 3 ROMFORD Attendance 287

Romford started brightly and forced a few corners early on with one bringing a penalty shout when Nick Reynolds was bundled over in the box, but the referee waved play on. Sudbury had a few shots themselves as they tried to force proceedings but could not find the target. On sixteen minutes Romford took the lead when George Woodward placed a corner on Nick Reynold's head and the striker powerfully directed the ball into the net. Sudbury nearly equalised straight away but Romford managed to clear the ball off the line. Another George Woodward corner eluded everyone except James Ishmail at the far post but the defender mistimed his leap and headed wide. On twenty-four minutes the game should have been level when the ball found Payton Swatman unmarked at the far post but the midfielder fluffed his lines mis-kicking when it looked easier to score and the visitors cleared. Sudbury were starting to get on top and Greg Crane headed a free kick onto the top of the bar and Aaron Omand made a great save denying Jack Wilkinson's long range effort. On forty-one minutes Romford doubled their lead when Sudbury's defence made a mess of a ball into the box allowing Nick Reynolds to tee up Paul Clayton who stroked the ball home.

Nine minutes into the second half and Michael Shinn sent an overhead kick just inches wide for the hosts and two minutes later the lead was halved when Aaron Omand spilt a shot that seemed to take a wicked bounce and Swatman put the ball into the unguarded goal. David Ottley nearly restored the two goal advantage, but his free kick rattled against the bar.
With the clock ticking Sudbury were pushing more and more men forward, leaving space for Romford to exploit and Eddie Hart nearly did, rounding the home keeper, but after being forced wide failed to pick out a Boro forward and the chance went begging. Two minutes into injury time Tom Richardson chased a long clearance and out muscled the lumbering Crane before cutting in and curling a sublime shot into the top corner.
Once again the large contingent of Boro supporters were able to celebrate an away victory at one of the fancied clubs.

AFC SUDBURY 1 SWATMAN
ROMFORD 3 NICK REYNOLDS 16, PAUL CLAYTON 41, TOM RICHARDSON 90+2

ROMFORD: AARON OMAND, DAVID OTTLEY, GEORGE WOODWARD, SCOTT TRUMAN, JAMES ISHMAIL, PAUL CLAYTON, JOE OATES (JAMIE DICKS 71), ABS SEYMOUR, NICK REYNOLDS (RYAN IMBERT 71), TOM RICHARDSON, EDDIE HART. SUBS NOT USES ATU NGOY, JACK BARRY, ROBBIE NORRIS.