While Romford’s home form this season has been disappointing, there have been three wins from four away matches in the league, the most recent being Wednesday’s excellent 4-1 win at Buckhurst Hill. Our opponents tomorrow also had a good win in midweek as they won 3-2 at Great Wakering Rovers in which they were twice behind before taking all three points with a late penalty.

The win at Buckhurst Hill lifts Boro up to thirteenth, while Benfleet are eighth in the table.

This is Benfleet’s second season in the Essex Senior League after their promotion as Eastern Counties League Division One South Champions in 2023-24. In their debut ESL season they finished sixteenth and attracted some impressive attendances at their Woodside Stadium, including a crowd of 702 for the visit of FC Clacton and 549 for their local derby with Hullbridge Sports.

Previous Meetings:

Last season’s two Essex Senior League fixtures were the first ever matches between the teams. In the game at Mayesbrook Park on a Friday night in August, Andy Morris’s first goal for the club gave Boro the lead before Reece McGovern added a superb second to round off a 2-0 win.

In the return at Woodside the following April, it seemed that Boro’s wretched form of the time would continue as the home side ran up a 3-0 half-time lead. In a remarkable second half, Boro recovered to earn a point from a 3-3 draw with goals from Jordan Burnett, Blaise Uwandji and Jayden Silcott-Brown (pictured below by Bob Knightley). Boro ended the game with ten men after Kris Newby was sent off thirteen minutes from the end.

This Season:

Benfleet currently sit eighth in the table with 14 points from 8 games. At home they are currently unbeaten with three wins and a draw having beaten Frenford, Sporting Bengal United, and Barking. Saffron Walden Town are so far the only team to leave Woodside with a point having drawn 0-0 there. They were without a league game last Saturday, but as mentioned earlier, won 3-2 at Great Wakering Rovers in midweek.

While there was no success for Benfleet in the FA Cup – they lost to Leighton Town in the Extra-Preliminary Round – they have made progress in the FA Vase. Having beaten Barking on penalties at Mayesbrook Park, they have subsequently disposed of West Essex and will face Great Wakering Rovers in the First Round. Wins over White Ensign and Basildon United in the BBC Essex Senior Cup have been rewarded with a trip to Canvey Island in the Third Round.

Leading scorers for Benfleet so far this season are Jake Godfrey and Taylor Lawrence, who have each scored four times.

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: £7
Concessions: £5
Children: £2

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 3rd October:
7.45pm Woodford Town v Ilford

Saturday 4th October:
3pm Barking v Hullbridge Sports
3pm Basildon United v White Ensign
3pm Benfleet v Romford
3pm Buckhurst Hill v Little Oakley
3pm Great Wakering Rovers v Hackney Wick
3pm Harwich & Parkeston v Athletic Newham
3pm Saffron Walden Town v Sporting Bengal United
3pm Soul Tower Hamlets v Frenford
3pm West Essex v Halstead Town