ROMFORD 1 (0) - (1) 3 Attendance 97 - Ship Lane

In the 4th minute Romford won a free kick on the edge of the Heybridge box but after it was charged down Swifts broke quickly and got the ball up to Dumaka in front of goal who although managing to turn his marker shot wide. Six minutes later though, they did take the lead when Toner picked up a fortunate rebound and quickly fired home.
Romford's first real chance fell to Abs Seymour but he shot past the post after a good run down the left by Tom Richardson, and then Nick Reynolds was put through but could only lob over.
After 27 minutes the ref made the first of some contentious decisions when Nick Reynolds laid the ball off and then had his legs taken from under him but collected a yellow card instead of a penalty from the official who was still some distance behind play. Before half time the Boro defence just managed to stop Dumaka after he made a good run in the box and at the other end nothing came of a free kick Heybridge conceded in a dangerous position.
Shortly after the break Harrison in the Heybridge goal just kept out Joe Oates' inswinging corner that was dipping under the bar but Romford equalised in the 56th minute when Danny Jones' lob into the area was perfectly placed for Nick Reynolds to head home. However, after working so hard to get back on terms they conceded again only three minutes later when a mix up in defence gifted a chance to Newson who made no mistake for Swifts' second.
They could have gone further ahead when Dumaka toe poked past the post but then nearly conceded from another dangerous Joe Oates corner that was kicked off the line in the 70th minute.
Abs Seymour received a mysterious yellow card but this did not deter him from finding Ryan Imbert with a great cross but the striker just missed the target.
In the 79th minute James Ishmail's well timed leap made him favourite to reach the ball in front of goal, but after the Heybridge keeper injured himself jumping into the Boro player a free kick was predictably awarded to the visitors who then three minutes later went two ahead when Newson picked up the ball on the right of the Boro box and shot low into the far corner.
Romford brought on youth team player Jorden Thomas for a short but promising debut and their last chance fell to Nick Reynolds who could only head fractionally over.
The game ended with Romford receiving two red cards. Danny Jones uncharacteristically kicking out in retaliation after being raked down the back of the leg by a Heybridge boot and obstruction in midfield by Matt Toms which was deliberate, but only worth a yellow card as there was no danger to the Boro goal.

ROMFORD 1 NICK REYNOLDS 56
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 3 TONER 10, NEWSON 59 82

ROMFORD: ATU NGOY, JACK BARRY (c), JAMIE DICKS, JAMES ISHMAIL (JORDEN THOMAS 85), MATT TOMS, JOE OATES, RYAN IMBERT, ABS SEYMOUR, NICK REYNOLDS, TOM RICHARDSON, DANNY JONES
UNUSED SUBS: AARON OMAND, REECE TRANTER, GEORGE WOODWARD, GARY REDWIN

YELLOW CARDS: NICK REYNOLDS 27, ABS SEYMOUR 71
RED CARDS: DANNY JONES 87, MATT TOMS 90+2

Match Report by Phil Redwin