Hoddesdon Town 0 (0) - (0) 0 ROMFORD Attendance 98‏ - Wodson Park

Boro started their FA Cup campaign in familiar surroundings at the home of old rivals Ware, as the ground of their Spartan South Midlands League opponents was unavailable.
Kicking up the slope for the first half Romford mainly concentrated on containing the lively home team and the only real danger to their goal came in 16th minute when a powerful Hoddesdon header looped over the defence but went over after clipping the crossbar. Boro's best efforts came later in the half with a Nick Reynolds long shot past the post and a Jamie Dicks header forcing a save from the home keeper.

There was a lot more end to end action in the second half as the game opened up and both teams tried to get at their opponent's goal. Hoddesdon were expecting to go ahead in the 52nd minute after the referee awarded them a rather harsh looking penalty and it was a decent effort from the Hoddesdon forward, but Michael Gooch got down to his right to pull off a great save, tipping the ball round the post.
Both teams continued to attack and counter attack and in the 73rd minute Nick Reynolds was able to charge down the Hoddesdon keeper's clearance but the rebound rolled wide of the goal. Five minutes later came another good chance for Boro but substitute Shomari Barnwell just failed to get on the end of a cross from the right that sped across the open goalmouth.
Romford were now having their best spell but with only three minutes to go it looked like disaster when Hoddesdon won a corner from a counter attack which resulted in a header that was going in, until palmed over by Nick Reynolds standing on the goal line. This inevitably resulted in another penalty and a red card for the striker, but Michael Gooch guessed right again and pulled off another magnificient save that was almost a carbon copy of the previous one.
Just before the final whistle there could even have been a very late winner for Romford after a mazy dribble into the area by Joe Bricknell, but slightly off balance he could only fire just over.

HODDESDON TOWN (0) 0

ROMFORD (0) 0

ROMFORD: MICHAEL GOOCH, ROBBIE NORRIS (SHOMARI BARNWELL 71), JAMIE DICKS, DANNY COSSINGTON, SAM BURTON, CHRIS BARRY (HARRY CULHAM 84), JAKE GIDDINGS, RYAN BOSWELL, NICK REYNOLDS, JOE BRICKNELL, GREG AKPELE (REECE COSSON 90) SUBS NOT USED ATY NGOY, JOE SCOTT, GEORGE TUBEY

YELLOW CARDS: JOE BRICKNELL 7,

RED CARDS, NICK REYNOLDS 88