The final game in a run of four consecutive away fixtures takes Romford to Gardiners Close to play Basildon United tomorrow. Boro’s last three games have all ended in draws and particularly after the last two there remains a sense that more points should have been put on the board.

Romford have made two signings this week with Darnell Fuller joining from Sporting Bengal United after impressing in the recent 2-2 draw with Boro at Mayesbrook Park, and who scored Bengal’s first goal, and Jake Barlow who signs from Frenford, where he was captain.

With West Essex having picked up form in recent weeks and lifted themselves out of the bottom two after winning at Halstead Town last Saturday, Boro sit perilously close to the relegation zone with just eight league games left to play.

When Basildon came to Mayesbrook Park earlier in the season the game ended in a 1-1 draw with the visitors taking an early lead. Kevin Musimami equalised for Boro just after the start of the second half and although Basildon were reduced to ten men for much of the game, they kept Boro at bay to take home a point.

Previous Meetings:

Tomorrow will be the 35th meeting between Romford and Basildon United since 1992 and the 17th at Gardiners Close. The very first game between the sides was an Essex Senior League match played there in October 1992 which the home side won 3-1 and in fact, Romford failed to win any of the first five games against Basildon, three of which ended in draws. Having won 1-0 at Gardiners Close in another Essex Senior League game played in March 1995 in which Micky Ross scored Romford’s goal, Boro then won or drew each of the next ten encounters.

Overall, Romford’s record against The Bees is 19 wins, 8 draws, and 7 defeats and Romford’s last visit to Basildon was in 2021 and resulted in a rare win that season as goals from Amadu Kanu, Darnell Kithambo, and Abdul Shogbeni earned a 3-2 victory in an Isthmian League Cup tie that came just a few days after a 3-0 Isthmian League defeat at the same venue.

Romford’s best result at Basildon came in the Essex Senior League championship season of 2008-09 when goals from George Tubey, Ricki Makin, Paul Kavanagh and a brace from Martin Heed gave Boro a 5-1 win. In 2019 however, Boro were thumped 6-0 by Basildon in an Isthmian League fixture. That being the Covid blighted season, the return game at home was not played.

Recent Form:

Relegated from Isthmian League North at the end of last season, Basildon were among many people’s tips for a tilt at the Essex Senior League title although they began the campaign with a defeat, 1-0 at Barking. They bounced back to beat Benfleet 3-0 in their first home league game but after changes in managerial staff and playing personnel, then lost six of their next seven games, picking up just a solitary point from a 0-0 draw with West Essex.

Basildon’s last six games have seen them win once and lose five times, including a 5-0 defeat at home against Great Wakering Rovers and a 5-2 home loss against Sporting Bengal United in a game that had seem them lead 2-0 after 37 minutes before conceding twice before half-time and then three more times after the break.

Last Saturday The Bees were beaten 3-0 at home by Woodford Town but they overcame a one man disadvantage in midweek, winning 2-1 at Harwich & Parkeston despite having a player sent off before half-time.

In 15 home games, The Bees have won 4, drawn 3, and lost 8 and they are currently 15th in the table with 31 points from 30 games, four points ahead of Romford. Leading scorer for the club this season is Nikolay Zlatev who has 9 goals.

Home Ground and How To Get There:

The full address of the ground is The Hive, Gardiners Close, Basildon, Essex SS14 3AW. From Romford, take the A127 to the A176 turn off towards Basildon/Billericay, then left into Cranes Farm Road, left again into Gardiners Lane South, and finally left again into Gardiners Close.

By public transport, getting to Basildon’s ground requires a train to Basildon on the C2C line and then the B3 bus which runs from Asda in Eastgate to Matching Green, from where the ground is a short walk.

Admission Prices:

Adults: £10
Concessions: £5
U16s: £2
Programmes: £2

Tomorrow’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

3pm Athletic Newham v Woodford Town
3pm Barking v Hackney Wick
3pm Basildon United v Romford
3pm Harwich & Parkeston v Ilford
3pm Little Oakley v Buckhurst Hill
3pm Saffron Walden Town v Soul Tower Hamlets
3pm Sporting Bengal United v Halstead Town
3pm West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers
3pm White Ensign v Benfleet