Molesy 1 (0) - (1) 3 ROMFORD Attendance 63 -Walton Road

Molesey play in the Ryman League Division One South at the same level as Boro, and at the moment occupy a slightly better league position but it was the visitors who made most of the early running in this hard fought cup tie. After five minutes a good Romford move down the left culminated in a Chinedu McKenzie cross finding Asher Modesto in space but he could only pull his shot wide of the post. Two minutes later another cross, this time by Will Green was a few inches too far in front of the onrushing Jonathan Adebayo who would have had an open goal. Romford then continued to enjoy the territorial advantage for long periods, without creating any more clear cut chances before Molesey went very near in the thirty sixth minute forcing Callum Chafer into an excellent save down low at full stretch.
Four minutes before the break the deadlock was finally broken by a spectacular goal from Modesto. A quick Boro attack freed McKenzie to move towards the penalty area but he was chopped down from behind. However the referee played a very good advantage as the loose ball ran to Adebayo who pushed a square pass to Modesto and the forward looked up, saw the Molesey keeper off his line and from nearly twenty five yards looped a shot over his head and just under the crossbar.
The home team started the second half with far more urgency and enjoying their best spell of the match equalised after fifty minutes. A Molesey forward broke swiftly down the right and crossed in to Charlie Samuels who had his back to goal, but he turned neatly and in the same movement hit the ball into the corner of the Boro goal. With their heads up now Molesey continued to press forward and after a good move on the hour sent in an effort that was not too far wide of the post.
Romford regained their composure and the game became end to end. Jamie Dicks had done well in his first game back from injury but Paul Martin gambled with an attacking substitution in the seventy first minute, bringing on striker Nick Reynolds for the midfielder and immediately gave Romford a different channel as he headed on a centre for McKenzie to flick narrowly wide of the post. However, seven minutes later Romford were back in front, with McKenzie smashing home after a superb piece of determination and skill from Ryan Mallett. The midfielder dribbled across the edge of the penalty area beating two men before being tackled by a third but he was quickly back on his feet while retaining possession and with all avenues blocked cleverly got his foot under the ball and lifted it perfectly over the defence where McKenzie made no mistake with his third goal in successive matches.
Despite the narrow lead to defend and the vital £2,500 prize money at stake Romford repeated their tactics from the midweek win at Bury by continuing to attack and McKenzie had another goal dubiously ruled out for handball after he appeared to control a Green pass with his hip. The victory was finally confirmed two minutes from time with a penalty awarded after Mallett was tripped in the box. Reynolds' spot kick was hit straight at the keeper but had too much power for him to prevent it hitting the net and Boro go on to visit Horsham in the next round, another Ryman Division One South club they have not crossed swords with for many years.

MOLESEY (0) 1 SAMUELS 50

ROMFORD (1) 1 ASHER MODESTE 41 ,CHINEDU MCKENZIE 78, NICK REYNOLDS 88 PEN)

ROMFORD: CALLUM CHAFER, RYAN BOSWELL, PAUL PRESTON, JAMES ISHMAIL, TOM POTTER, JONATHAN ADEBAYO, RYAN MALLETT, JAMIE DICKS (NICK REYNOLDS 71), CHINEDU MCKENZIE (DAVID MANU 85), ASHER MODESTE, WILL GREEN SUBS NOT USED CHRIS TAYLOR, MATT TOMS &