Tomorrow sees FA Cup action return to Mayesbrook Park and after Boro’s Extra-Preliminary Round win over Step 4 side Barton Rovers, Baldock Town of the Spartan South Midlands League provide the opposition. Baldock have reached this stage following a 3-0 win over Kempston Rovers in the previous round.

The winners of tomorrow’s game will receive £1,444 from the prize fund (there’s a consolation prize of £481 for the losers) and a place in the First Qualifying Round. There’s no extra-time if the scores are level after 90 minutes with a replay on Tuesday night required. If necessary, the replay would take place at Arlesey Town’s New Lamb Meadow where Baldock play their home games.

As usual in the FA Cup, season tickets are not valid tomorrow and admission prices are £10 for Adults, £5 for Concessions, and £2 for Under 16s.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have only ever met Baldock Town once before and that was also in the FA Cup, in a Preliminary Round tie in 2018. On a very wet Sunday afternoon at Rookery Hill, it was the visitors who took the lead, but Kurt Smith scored from the spot to draw Boro level and he added a second before the break. Baldock equalised just past the hour mark but another penalty, converted by Roddy Lemba in the final minute, earned Boro a place in the First Qualifying Round and a home tie against former Southern League rivals Kettering Town.

Goalmouth action from the 2018 FA Cup tie. Photo by Alan Blackholly.

Last Season:

Baldock Town finished 15th in the Spartan South Midlands League lasts season with 37 points from 38 games, with near identical home and away records (5 wins at home and on their travels, 11 defeats at home and 10 away).

In the FA Cup last season, Baldock drew their Extra-Preliminary Round tie at home against Little Oakley before losing 1-0 in the replay. That was Baldock’s fourth consecutive Extra-Preliminary Round exit and their best FA Cup performance in recent years was in 2021-22 when they beat Wembley, Grays Athletic, and Wisbech Town before losing to Wingate & Finchley in the Second Qualifying Round.

In the FA Vase they fell at the first hurdle in 2025-26, beaten 5-0 at home by the now defunct Kings Park Rangers in the First Qualifying Round.

Top scorer for Baldock last season was Harleigh Johnson-Standley, who netted 10 times although he is no longer with the club.

This Season:

So far this season, Baldock have played three league games, winning one and losing two having beaten Colney Heath 2-1 on the opening day but subsequently losing 2-0 at AFC Welwyn, and on Tuesday this week, 3-2 at home to Sawbridgeworth Town.

As mentioned above, in the FA Cup they beat Kempston Rovers 3-0 in the Extra-Preliminary Round, while in the FA Vase they won 3-0 at Basildon United last Saturday.

The goals have been shared around for Baldock so far this season with four players having scored twice to date, including Freddie Higgs who scored in both FA Cup and FA Vase wins.

Tomorrow’s fixtures:

There’s one Essex Senior League game tomorrow, plus nine FA Cup ties involving ESL clubs. The fixtures are as follows, with ESL clubs involved in cup ties shown in bold:

Essex Senior League:
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Sporting Bengal United

FA Cup Preliminary Round:
Brantham Athletic v Halstead Town
Clapton Community v Concord Rangers
Harefield United v Hullbridge Sports
Haringey Borough v Frenford
Hayes & Yeading v White Ensign
Hutton v Grays Athletic
Romford v Baldock Town
West Essex v Royston Town
Woodford Town v Sawbridgeworth Town