After Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Hullbridge Sports, Romford are on the cusp of the Play-Off places and would leap-frog old rivals Ilford with a win at Cricklefields tomorrow in a game that sees Boro embark on a run of six games of which five are away from home

Midweek roundup:
Boro’s game on Wednesday was one of five midweek matches. On Tuesday evening Barking made it five wins from five home games as they beat managerless Woodford Town 3-1, while West Essex won 3-0 at Clapton Community, where the home side had a player sent-off. Tuesday’s other game saw Basildon United score twice in the opening six minutes against Halstead Town, finally running out 4-2 winners to make it three defeats on the trot for The Humbugs. There was a big win for White Ensign on Wednesday evening as they thumped Hackney Wick 6-1. Hackney have now conceded 33 goals in 11 games, five more than anyone else in the division.

Previous Meetings:

Tomorrow’s game is the second meeting between Romford and Ilford this season. Back in August the teams met at Mayesbrook Park in an FA Vase tie. Jaxon Brown (pictured below by Bob Knightley) gave Boro the lead which was added to by Jonathon Evans’s excellent free-kick. Boro old boy Greg Akpele netted a penalty for Ilford, but Boro held out to win 2-1.

Ilford won all three encounters between the teams last season and all without Boro getting on the scoresheet. As well as the 2-0 defeat at Cricklefields in the FA Vase, Boro lost in the league by the same score in the league game at the same venue, and 3-0 at home in the return fixture.

Boro’s last win over The Foxes came during the early part of the 2024-25 season when a penalty by Aundre Spencer and further goals by Ken Feyi and Kalum Bala earned a 3-1 win in a game played at Redbridge FC’s ground due to the ongoing issues at Cricklefields that had Ilford playing home games at a variety of grounds for most of the season. The return game that season ended in a 1-1 draw in which Derek Feyi scored his only goal in Romford colours.

There have been 24 games between Romford and Ilford since 1992, with the sides exactly even overall; Romford have won 10, Ilford have won 10, and there have been 4 drawn matches.

Current Form:

Both sides have won four and drawn one of their last six league games. Romford’s only defeat in the last six was the 2-1 reverse at Benfleet, but the last three games have all resulted in wins, a run that has lifted Boro to seventh in the table, while Ilford are fifth, but have played one game more.

Ilford were 3-2 winners at Benfleet in their most recent outing, but their victory came at a price as they had Joel Appiah and Mohamed Habib sent off. Ilford’s other league wins came against Hackney Wick (3-2), Harwich & Parkeston (1-0), and Sporting Bengal United (3-0). The Foxes’ only defeat in their last six was a 3-1 reverse at home against White Ensign, while they drew the other game in their run of six when they were held at home by Saffron Walden Town, a game in which Ilford led 3-1 at half-time but which finished 4-4.

Top scorer for Ilford so far this season is Daniel Izekor, who has eight goals to his name, followed by captain Joel Appiah, who has four but is likely to be suspended for tomorrow’s game following his red card at Benfleet.

Home Ground and How To Get There:

There can be few Romford fans who haven’t made the familiar trek to Cricklefield Stadium, where tomorrow’s game will be played, but just in case…

The address of the ground is Cricklefield Stadium, Ilford IG1 1FY, which is just off High Road and is a short walk from Seven Kings Station. The number 86 bus stops near to the entrance to the ground.

There is a car park in front of the stadium which is a pay facility run by the council, so please check parking times and pay appropriately. The changing rooms and club house are on the far-right corner of the pitch (behind the hammer throwing net) once you have entered the stadium from the car park. The sports club by the entrance will not be in use.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

There is an intriguing clash in prospect at Mayesbrook Park tomorrow as Barking take on league leaders Frenford. Second placed Heybridge Swifts – who have conceded just three goals in eight league games to date – go to Hutton, who have won all of their last three games. The bottom two in the table – Sporting Bengal United and Hackney Wick – are in danger of getting cut adrift and face difficult weekend fixtures, away to Hullbridge Sports and Saffron Walden Town respectively. Two somewhat out of form sides meet at Burroughs Park where Great Wakering Rovers entertain Woodford Town.

Saturday 24th October:
3pm Barking v Frenford
3pm Basildon United v Harwich & Parkeston
3pm Clapton Community v Benfleet
3pm Great Wakering Rovers v Woodford Town
3pm Halstead Town v White Ensign
3pm Hullbridge Sports v Hackney Wick
3pm Hutton v Heybridge Swifts
3pm Ilford v Romford
3pm Saffron Walden Town v Sporting Bengal United
3pm Soul Tower Hamlets v West Essex