It’s an important game for both Romford and Barking tomorrow, albeit for different reasons. After last Saturday’s win at Hullbridge, Boro would be able to guarantee another season in the Essex Senior League with victory tomorrow, however Barking will be looking for maximum points to consolidate their Play-Off place after losing 1-0 at SOUL Tower Hamlets in midweek.

Also this week there was a game that affected both the top and bottom of the table when Buckhurst Hill beat White Ensign 1-0 on Thursday evening. The result keeps Buckhurst Hill on track for a Play-Off place with The Stags having a game in hand on Barking, who are just one point ahead of them. For White Ensign – who along with West Essex and Romford have 33 points from 36 games - it was a tenth league defeat on the trot. Tomorrow they face SOUL Tower Hamlets at the Mile End Stadium before finishing their season with a home game against Athletic Newham.

Tonight (Friday) Sporting Bengal United visit Hackney Wick in another important game at the foot of the table and a win for Hackney – whose form has improved with three wins in their last four after a poor spell – would do Boro an enormous favour.

Little Oakley, SOUL Tower Hamlets, and Great Wakering Rovers are all assured of a place in the Play-Offs at least, and assuming that Barking do qualify for the Play-Offs it will be for the third season running. In 2023-24 they were beaten 1-0 by Boro in the Semi-Final and last season lost 2-0 at Takeley at the same stage.

Barking will also be looking to avenge last November’s defeat at Boro’s hands when the sides last met. Goals from Christian Adu Gyamfi ( pictured below) and Flynn Hamilton gave Boro a 2-0 half-time lead and although Barking pulled one back, it ended 3-1 thanks to an injury time goal from Kevin Musimami.

In recent weeks Barking have signed ex-Romford striker Finlay Dorrell who has netted four goals in five games, while another former Boro man, Chaka Barnett, is joint leading scorer for The Blues scorer this season with 13 goals; Ryan Pickles has the same number to his name.

Match Sponsors:

Tomorrow’s match is sponsored by Romford Business Improvement District (Romford BID), who are responsible for many fantastic initiatives that actively improve the lives of people in our community, including the recent Brick Endangered Trail at The Liberty Shopping Centre, find out more about their work here: https://romfordbid.co.uk/projects/

The match ball tomorrow is sponsored by the Teapot Café, which is located in the Romford Shopping Hall and is a regular haunt for a number of Boro supporters.

Romford FC are very grateful to Romford BID and the Teapot Café for their support.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have played Barking on 30 occasions since 1992 with honours fairly even; Boro have won 13 of those games and Barking have won 11.

Last season’s games both went Barking’s way, both ended up 3-1 and in both games Romford had scored first. In Barking’s home game, Arnold Mengi game Boro the lead just before half-time, a lead that was held until the 73rd minute when Barking equalised. They then scored twice inside the last 10 minutes to complete the double over Boro. In the home game Boro went ahead through Blaise Uwandji after eight minutes but Barking equalised a minute later, scoring twice more after the interval.

The most important game between the sides in recent seasons was the 2024 Play-Off Semi-Final, played at Rookery Hill in front of a crowd of 195. A goal by Kris Newby from the penalty spot earned Boro a 1-0 win and a place in the Final against Sporting Bengal United.

Recent Form:

Prior to their midweek defeat against SOUL Tower Hamlets, Barking had won two consecutive games without conceding a goal having beaten Halstead Town 2-0 at Mayesbrook Park last Saturday, and Sporting Bengal United 5-0 at the Mile End Stadium the week before. They have won one other of their last six league games when they beat fellow Play-Off hopefuls Great Wakering Rovers 2-1 at Mayesbrook Park.

As well as their midweek defeat, Barking have also lost another recent game 1-0 when they were beaten at Ilford. Rounding off their last six league games, they drew 3-3 at Harwich & Parkeston, where they trailed 3-1 at one point, finally levelling the scores in the ninth minute of second half stoppage time.

Away from home, Barking have won seven and lost six of their 17 games to date, including that defeat against Boro, apart from which they have lost twice at Mayesbrook Park, against Woodford Town and SOUL Tower Hamlets. Barking round off their Essex Senior League programme next Saturday when they visit fellow Play-Off contenders Buckhurst Hill.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

There are crucial games at both ends of the table this weekend. The full fixture list is as follows:

Friday 17th April:
7.45pm Hackney Wick v Sporting Bengal United

Saturday 18th April:
3pm Benfleet v Buckhurst Hill
3pm Frenford v Athletic Newham
3pm Great Wakering Rovers v Little Oakley
3pm Halstead Town v Harwich & Parkeston
3pm Hullbridge Sports v Saffron Walden Town
3pm Ilford v Woodford Town
3pm Romford v Barking
3pm Soul Tower Hamlets v White Ensign
3pm West Essex v Basildon United