Following Saturday’s game at Great Wakering Rovers, it’s another trip along the A127 or A13 - depending on preference - tomorrow with Benfleet the opponents. This will be the third try to play this match as the previous attempts have been postponed due to the pitch at Woodside – where Boro will be playing for the first time – having been unfit.

Tomorrow’s game will be just the second between the teams, the match at Barking last August ended with Romford winning 2-0 through goals by Andy Morris and Reece McGovern.

While Romford were in action at Great Wakering on Saturday, Benfleet were at home to White Ensign and having trailed 2-1 at the break, came back to win 3-2 with a stoppage time winner.

Benfleet FC – A Brief History

Formed in 1922, the club were known as Benfleet United but after a merger with Parkfields Athletic became Benfleet Rangers. The Rangers suffix was dropped in 1971 when the club joined the Essex Olympian League. The club chose not to apply to join the Essex Senior League in 1997 as the cost of bringing their Woodside Park ground unto standard proved prohibitive, but in 2018 they successfully applied for promotion to the Thurlow Nunn League, a move that entailed groundsharing at Canvey Island.

Benfleet’s debut season in the Thurlow Nunn League ended with a twelfth place finish. In 2019-20 they were eleventh when Covid caused the season to be abandoned and in the similarly curtailed 2020-21 season they were eighth. They subsequently finished third and sixth before taking the title last season with 103 points from 42 games.

This Season:

This season is Benfleet’s first at Step 5 and comes with a return to their Woodside Park ground which has been improved to meet ground grading requirements. They are currently 15th in the table with 37 points from 33 games. At home their record is won 8 and lost 8. On current form Benfleet have two wins and four defeats from their last six matches.

Benfleet’s debut in the Essex Senior League ended in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Woodford Town, but they gained a measure of revenge by beating the same side 3-1 in the FA Cup. Benfleet’s first Essex Senior League win was a 6-3 mauling of Ilford. After their win over Woodford, Benfleet met Haringey Borough in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup but were beaten 5-1 at home by the Isthmian League North side in front of a crowd of 322 at Woodside Park.

In the FA Vase this season, Benfleet reached the Second Round after wins over Baldock Town and Newbury Forest, but were then beaten 2-1 at Brantham Athletic.

The wet weather meant that Benfleet did not play a home game between 28th December, when they beat Great Wakering Rovers 2-0, and 4th March when Barking won there 5-0. Tomorrow’s game is the sixth consecutive home game for Benfleet as they catch up with previously postponed fixtures.

With an average home crowd of 216, Benfleet are third in the league’s attendance table and included in their home crowds was an amazing 702 against FC Clacton on Non-League Day.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Benfleet’s home ground is at Woodside, Manor Road, Benfleet SS7 4PA

At 22 miles from Romford, Google Maps suggests that it’s a drive of just shy of 40 minutes via the A127. Leave the A127 at the junction with the A1245 and join the A130, which you exit at Sadlers Farm and head for South Benfleet. Turn left into Rushbottom Lane and then right into Church Road before finally turning left into Manor Road.

By public transport, the nearest railway stations are:

Benfleet on the c2c line (about 2.5 miles) and Rayleigh on the Greater Anglia line (about 3.5 miles). Buses run from both of these stations to within easy walking distance of the ground.

Admission Prices:
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Children: £2

This week’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Tuesday 8th April:
7.45pm Benfleet v Romford
7.45pm Stansted v Little Oakley
7.45pm Takeley v Great Wakering Rovers

Friday 11th April:
7.45pm Romford v Barking
7.45pm Stanway Rovers v Halstead Town