Romford play their third pre-season game tomorrow, taking a trip up the A12 to play last season’s Essex Senior League champions Little Oakley. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at the usual time of 3pm.

The Acorns are embarking on their first ever season at Step 4 and will play in Isthmian League North after winning the Essex Senior League by two points from SOUL Tower Hamlets last season.

While Boro have tasted defeat in each of the first two pre-season games, Little Oakley have won two and lost one of theirs, having beaten Hadleigh United and Wivenhoe Town, but losing against Stanway Rovers.

Romford had not met Little Oakley prior to 2022 when the sides met in an FA Vase tie which Boro won 2-0. The two Essex Senior League games that season both ended in away wins with Boro ending a run of five defeats with a 1-0 win at The Memorial Ground. Last season’s games against Little Oakley both ended in defeats, 2-1 at Mayesbrook Park and 1-0 at The Memorial Ground, a particularly heartbreaking loss for Boro who looked destine to come away with a point and a clean sheet until the hosts scored in the sixth minute of added time. Overall, in 12 meetings between the sides, Boro have won 6 and lost 5.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Little Oakley play at the Memorial Ground, Harwich Road, Little Oakley, CO12 5ED. From Romford, take the A12 to Colchester, exiting onto the A1232/A120 slip road signposted Colchester N/Clacton/Harwich. Stay on the A120 until Ramsey, then take Church Hill (the B1352) and then the B1414 (Harwich Road). The ground has a car park.

The nearest station to the ground is Harwich International, which is about three miles away.