Great Wakering Rovers 2 (1) - (3) 4 ROMFORD Attendance 87 - Burroughs Park

The Boro totally dominated the first half, playing some fantastic slick passing football at a high tempo.Tom Richardson and Reece Cosson went close, before on twelve minutes an Abs Seymour corner was powerfully headed home by centre back Nathan Cooper to record his first goal for the club. Four minutes later and a near identical set piece could have doubled the lead but this time the header was blocked on the line before being bundled clear to safety. On eighteen minutes Callum Ibe turned his marker in the box before being bought down but the referee ignored Romford’s appeals, but a minute later it was two when a nice flick by Tom Richardson found David Ottley galloping down the right wing and his cut back found Callum Ibe who with a quick turn fired past the keeper. Tom Richardson went close before the winger finally got his goal after a move starting from Romford's own bye line. Nathan Cooper shielded the ball before turning the striker and finding Tyler Hayes at left back who was allowed to bring the ball forward. After a nice one-two with Callum Ibe the full back advanced into the box and picked out Reece Cosson who feigned to shoot before laying off to Tom Richardson to smash the ball home in the thirtieth minute. Eight minutes later and Wakering pulled a goal back when Tom Ranger headed home a corner before right on half time Joe Skeels was shown the red card for throwing an elbow with another Wakering player lucky to stay on the pitch for a stamp in the same incident.

After the break the playing against ten men curse from last season looked to have hit Romford again with Wakering spending lots of time attacking. Matt Toms produced a vital block and Davis Boateng, making his debut in goal tipped the ball wide from a long distance drive. Billy Johnson did pull a goal back, chipping over the Boro keeper from the left wing but Romford restored their two goal advantage when Tom Richardson was fouled in the box, leaving Eddie Hart to smash home from the spot on seventy-six minutes. That goal took the stuffing out of Wakering and Romford easily saw out the rest of the game allowing them to look forward to Wednesday’s draw.

GREAT WAKERING ROVER (1) 2 RANGER 38, JOHNSON 71.

ROMFORD (3) 4 NATHAN COOPER 12, CALLUM IBE 19, TOM RICHARDSON 30, EDDIE HART (PEN) 76

ROMFORD: DAVIS BOATENG, DAVID OTTLEY, TYLER HAYES, MATT TOMS, NATHAN COOPER, GEORGE COCKLIN (JAMES ISHMAIL 55), REECE COSSON, ABS SEYMOUR, EDDIE HART, TOM RICHARDSON (OLLIE DINGLI 84), CALLUM IBE (SAMUEL KEMP 67)

YELLOW CARD: GEORGE COCKLIN 45