It’s off down the A13 for Boro with a visit to Benfleet. The sides have already met in the league this season with Benfleet winning 3-2 at Mayesbrook Park in late August, so Boro will be looking to reverse that result and come home with three points.

In that August fixture, the visitors were three up before the hour mark and although goals from Matt Blake and Ekow Owusu-Boakye reduced their advantage to a single goal, Boro ran out of time in their search for an equaliser.

In Saturday’s games, Romford enjoyed a 3-0 win over SOUL Tower Hamlets side, although it wasn’t until the visitors had been reduced to nine men that Boro scored, the goal coming from Jaxon Brown. New signing Jack Zielinski marked his debut with Boro’s second goal and Matt Blake wrapped things up with the third. Meanwhile, Benfleet were at home to Woodford Town but ended up on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.

The weekend’s results leave Romford in 12th position with nine points, while Benfleet are one place higher and one point better off, but while Boro have played just six league games Benfleet have played nine.

Previous Meetings:

There have been five previous meetings between Romford and Benfleet, and so far, Benfleet have a slight edge with two wins (including the one in August) to Boro’s one.

The very first game provided Romford with their only win to date as Andy Morris and Reece McGovern scored the goals in a 2-0 win at Mayesbrook Park. The return game at Benfleet ended 3-3 as Romford came from three down at half-time to salvage a point thanks to goals from Jordan Burnett, Blaise Uwandji, and Jayden Silcott-Brown.

Lasts season’s game at Benfleet gave them their first win over Boro as they romped home 5-0. The return game at Mayesbrook Park finished 1-1 with Christian Adu Gyamfi giving Boro an early lead, only for the visitors to equalise just before the break.

Last Season:

Last season was Benfleet’s second in the Essex Senior League following their promotion from the Thurlow Nunn League, and they improved on the 16th place they registered in their debut campaign by finishing in 9th place despite the distraction of an excellent run in the FA Vase in which they beat Barking, West Essex, Walsham le Willows, and Dereham Town before losing at home to Punjab United in the last 32.

This Season:

Benfleet kicked off their season with a 1-0 home win over Halstead Town, but then suffered a 2-1 reverse at home against West Essex. Since their win over Boro in August, Benfleet have won just once more in the league, a 1-0 home victory over Sporting Bengal United courtesy of a penalty from former Boro player Jacob Wiggins. Their last four games have yielded just one point – from a 2-2 draw at home against Basildon United – with defeats coming at the hands of Frenford, Saffron Walden Town, and Woodford Town.

In the FA Cup, Benfleet were beaten 3-0 at Clapton Community in the Extra-Preliminary Round, but they have yet to start their FA Vase campaign as their run to the Fourth Round in 2025-26 means exemption until the Second Round (which is played at the end of October) this season.

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: £8
Concessions: £5
Children: £2

This week’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Tuesday 6th October:
7.45pm Hullbridge Sports v Harwich & Parkeston

Wednesday 7th October:
7.45pm Benfleet v Romford
7.45pm Hutton v Clapton Community