The Boro Belles continued their promotion push with a difficult away trip to Bowers and Pitsea Reserves. The squad has been decimated by injuries of late and the selection headaches continued this week for manager Jason Murray, as a bout of sickness further reduced numbers.

With as many as nine regulars missing, including the Belles first choice keeper Jamie Williams, the starting eleven had a very patched up look about it. However Boro settled quickly into the rhythm of the game and controlled large parts of the first half in a composed display.

The organised Belles kept their high flying opponents at bay and threatened on several occasions on the break, only to overhit their final ball when it mattered.

With the half coming to an end, a speculative effort from Bowers squirmed past debutant Boro keeper Rhea Ellerby and the home side went into the break with an undeserved 1-0 lead.

The Belles second half response was almost immediate, and Bowers were forced into some last ditch defending to preserve their lead. The Belles created some wonderful opportunities, and captain Alice Sharpe fired over from close range after latching on to loose ball from a Boro corner.

Next, Evie Doyle-Love was unable to get a clear connection on a Claire Huggins cross, with the goal at her mercy. Shannon Simpson, who was now up front and causing havoc with her pace, then forced a brave save from the Bowers keeper as she raced clear.

By now the Belles were well in the ascendancy, led by the outstanding Paulina Saviciute, and had their best opportunity to draw level when the talismanic Huggins was felled in the box. It was Simpson who stepped up to take the penalty but her high strike was well saved by the outstanding Bowers keeper and the rebound squirmed agonisingly wide.

With that miss went their last hope of getting something from the game, and the Belles slipped to a defeat that their efforts didn't warrant. In a tight division, these were disappointing points to drop.

Murray was proud of his team afterwards, saying “The performance from the group was astonishing today, considering the absences and lack of depth in such an intense encounter. This one hurts, and the players certainly didn’t deserve this. In fact I would have been disappointed with just a point today but instead we have come away with none".

Boro will travel to Chigwell for a League Cup fixture at Fairlop this weekend.

Squad: Ellerby, Fenton, Saviciute, Sharpe(c), Gabriel, Eastwell, Whyte, Corcoran, Kuski, Simpson, Doyle-Love: Huggins

Player of the Match: Paulina Saviciute

Under 16s

Romford 1 - 1 Billericay Town

Our under 16's battled to a worthy draw with Billericay as the spoils were shared at Westlands in an entertaining A division encounter. Romford started much the better of the two sides and Chloe Bramley was soon warming the keepers hands as she cut in from her wing back position and fired goalwards. On the other side Berrie Antoniou was also prominent in the early exchanges, and she forced a succession of early corners as Boro looked to press home their initial ascendancy.

Billericay proved resilient, however, and it took a moment of magic to break the deadlock. Erin Pitney ghosted past two players in midfield and picked out Tabitha Hellen with an inch perfect through ball. Hellen then skipped past the keeper and finished superbly from close range. It was no more than Romford deserved and they could have added to their lead as Mia Murray and Lainey Norris also went close.

Unfortunately, Erin Pitney was carried off injured just before the interval and her loss would prove significant as the visitors fought back with a much improved second half display. The equaliser came after Boro were initially fortunate to scramble a free kick clear, but the returning long range effort was well struck and flew into the top corner.

Boro were then forced into a fine defensive effort and were indebted to Isobel Pitney and skipper Izzy Kearns for a number of timely interceptions. However, Boro soon answered back as Charlotte Walsh hit the bar with a free kick and Murray, Antoniou, Hellen and Norris were all denied by the excellent visiting keeper. There was more drama to come in the closing seconds however, as Hellen was bundled over in the box but no penalty was given. From the resulting clearance, Holly Winser and Lottie Lambert combined to set Walsh up but her spectacular long range effort thudded back off the bar once again, with the keeper well beaten.

Manager James Kearns was disappointed not to take all three points but accepted a draw was a fair result. "I think when you hit the bar twice as Charlotte did, you always feel a bit hard done by, but Billericay really fought back in the second half. I'm disappointed we didn't make more of the first half superiority we had but I think a draw was maybe fair on the balance of play. It was a really good game with two excellent goals and I think both teams played good football at times. It's a shame we didn't win it at the end but it's a decent point".

Boro will make the return journey to Billericay next week in the league.

Scorer: Tabitha Hellen

Squad: M Pitney, B Antoniou, C Bramley, I Pitney, I Kearns (c), H Winser, L Lambert, M Murray, C Walsh, L Norris, T Hellen: E Pitney, D Yorulmaz

Player of the Match: Tabitha Hellen

Under 13's

Stanway Rovers 0 - 6 Romford

On a very cold morning our youngest team faced Stanway Rovers Blaze at the Peter Mormant school in Colchester in an Essex County Girls A division clash.

The first half started well for Boro, who had an early chance to take the lead when Tyiana Samuel ran through on goal but shot narrowly wide. That early range finder proved ominous for the home team as the excellents Samuel raced through twice more in quick succession and finished well on both occasions to give Boro an early two goal lead.

Whilst Samuel was proving to be a constant threat the young Boro side were playing well all over the park, and the attacking third saw a number of good combinations between Lunan, Miller, Fox, Willis and Thomas. This interplay resulted in a third goal before half time when Maisie Fox scored her now customary long range effort.

Going into the interval with a three goal lead allowed Romford to build with confidence in the second half and apply more pressure with their passing football beginning to knit together well. They continued to create opportunities to score but found the home team well organised and fully committed, and not giving anything away easily.

Eventually that resistance crumbled and Boro notched again with further cool finishes from Kayla Lunan and another excellent strike from distance from Fox.

With that, the young Boro side secured a thumping 6-0 win and picked up another three valuable points.

Manager Darren Dennis said "We have been working on a few things in the attacking third so it was nice to see that pay off on occasion today, hopefully we can continue to build on that in the coming games. Decision making and being calm in front of goal are key"

"It was a good team performance and it was really pleasing to see that when we have confidence we can pass the ball around well and play some good football. We have lacked the confidence at times this season to do that."

"The attacking players take the plaudits today, especially Tyiana Samuel who was scary good, but I also gave two other players the Player of the Match award. Lois Turner is a developmental player whose performances just keep getting better and today was a perfect display. Also Taiya Samuel, who is adapting to a new role in the team but was immense and started many of the passing moves from great defending and playing into the players in front of her. Well done to all three girls."

Romford are away once again in a huge league game against Trinity Girls next week.

Scorers: Tyiana Samuel (2), Maisie Fox (2), Kayla Lunan (2)

Squad: M Cupidon, Turner, Nolan, Ta Samuel, Kinnard, Miller, Cave, Dennis, Lunan, Fox, Ty Samuel, Willis, Thomas, Osben.

Players of the Match: Tyiana Samuel, Lois Turner, Taiya Samuel