While Boro were at Heybridge Swifts last Saturday, Bury Town were entertaining Great Wakering Rovers in a game that had just about everything! Cemal Ramadan – who scored both Bury’s goals when they beat Boro 2-1 at Ram Meadow earlier in the season – netted a hat-trick inside the first 55 minutes as Bury won 3-1. So far, so mundane, but a red card for Snaith saw Bury reduced to ten men after less than half an hour, and in second half stoppage time, they had two more players sent off, Crane, and hat-trick hero Ramadan.

Bury were due to play in midweek, at Brentwood Town, but that game was washed out by the heavy rain that fell over most of the county on Tuesday.

Previous meetings:

Romford have beaten Bury Town just three times in the previous 14 meetings in all competitions, and just twice in 11 Isthmian League matches. Both of those league victories came in the 2016-17 season, when Romford won 2-1 at Bury thanks to goals from Chinedu McKenzie and Will Green, and 1-0 in the return at Ship Lane with McKenzie again on target.

Since that win in 2017, Boro have drawn three and lost four of the seven fixtures, five of which have been played at Bury due to the abandonment of the last two seasons, when the home fixtures were not played.

The last time Romford were at home to Bury was in 2018-19, and in a game played at Boro’s then home at Rookery Hill, the away side went home with all three points having won 4-0.

Last season’s fixture at Ram Meadow was the last league game played and ended 2-2 after a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes. Earlier this season, Boro were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Bury; Steve Carvell scored Boro’s goal from the penalty spot.

This season:

Bury were eighth in the table after their win over Romford in November, their highest league position of the season, however, they have been a model of inconsistency since, with comfortable wins over Barking, and AFC Sudbury, and an impressive win over Dereham Town balanced against hefty defeats at Aveley and Canvey Island, and a surprise loss at Tilbury in their most recent away trip.

Leading scorer for Bury Town this season is the aforementioned Cemal Ramadan, who has 18 goals to his name; Jake Chambers Shaw comes next with 6.

Bury’s current form is only marginally better than Boro’s, with one win and one draw in their last six, and their last four away matches have all ended in defeat, at Coggeshall, Aveley, Canvey, and Tilbury.

This week in Isthmian North:

There were two games in our division on Tuesday evening, with Felixstowe & Walton United 3-0 winners over Barking, who remain second bottom, and a 2-2 draw between Great Wakering Rovers and Coggeshall Town.

Fixtures

Friday
Maldon & Tiptree v Witham Town

Saturday
Basildon United v Aveley
Canvey Island v AFC Sudbury
Coggeshall Town v Tilbury
Dereham Town v Brentwood Town
Felixstowe & Walton United v Stowmarket Town
Grays Athletic v Barking
Great Wakering Rovers v Heybridge Swifts
Hashtag United v Hullbridge Sports