Tomorrow is Non-League Day and both the Essex Senior League and Romford FC are offering incentives to fans in an effort to attract big crowds. In Boro’s case, supporters of Premier League clubs can attend the game against Frenford at Mayesbrook Park for half-price on production of their season ticket.

Romford’s game against Frenford is one of just four Essex Senior League games kicking off at the usual time of 3pm as the Essex Senior League promotes Non-League Day with a staggered schedule of matches over the weekend There is a choice of two games tonight, while fans can take in as many as three games on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Frenford come to Mayesbrook Park tomorrow rooted to the foot of the table, although they did pick up three valuable points last Saturday when they beat Hackney Wick 2-1 while Boro were coming off second best at Saffron Walden Town. Sporting Bengal United, another of the clubs in the lower reaches of the table, were in action on Wednesday and lost 1-0 to a late goal at home against Little Oakley, who leapfrogged Great Wakering Rovers to return to the top of the table. Bengal are in action again tonight as they face SOUL Tower Hamlets, while two of the bottom three meet tomorrow when Athletic Newham face West Essex, whose fortunes have revived of late.

A number of players who will potentially be involved tomorrow have played for both clubs. Romford have recently signed goalkeeper Lee Haylock from Frenford along with defender Jake Barlow, while Nick Reynolds returned to The Boro at the start of this season after a spell with Frenford. The Frenford line-up against Hackney Wick last Saturday included David Luzolo, who played 5 times for Boro in 2021-22 and other ex-Boro players who have turned out for them this season include Tom Anderson, Brendan Ocran, Kai Haysmann, and Kelvin Boampong.

Previous Meetings:

Romford first met Frenford in a competitive match in September 2023, and on a wet night in Ilford, Boro fell to a 3-2 defeat. The return game at Rookery Hill in January 2024 was a rather better result for Boro however, as it ended 6-1 with Charlie Morris netting a hat-trick to add to a brace from Hassan Nalbant and another from Finlay Dorrell.

Last season’s games both ended in away wins. At The Drive, Romford won 4-2 thanks to goals from Brendan Ocran, Ken Feyi, Blaise Uwandji, and Amaree Robinson-Jones, but at Mayesbrook Park, Frenford ran out 3-1 winners with Scott Doe scoring Boro’s goal.

This season’s match at Frenford ended in a 2-0 defeat, a result that was particularly disappointing for Boro, coming as it did a week after the 2-2 draw at Great Wakering.

Recent Form:

Bottom of the table with 18 points from 32 games and without an away league win so far this season, Frenford’s last six results include that win over Hackney Wick and a draw at White Ensign, and four defeats. Among those loses was a 4-2 reverse at Hullbridge Sports, where they had actually led 2-0 at half-time and in a game at Halstead Town in February, and despite also losing that game 4-2, they were again leading at one point and might not have lost had they not squandered a penalty kick.

Goals have been hard to come by for Frenford with the net found just 33 times in league games, however they should not be underestimated while they have the likes of Corey Davidson and David Knight in their squad. Davidson has 9 goals to his name this season and while Knight has scored only once, he has only played twice since joining the club recently.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 27th March:

7.45pm Soul Tower Hamlets v Sporting Bengal United
7.45pm Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill

Saturday 28th March:
3pm Athletic Newham v West Essex
1pm Basildon United v Hackney Wick
3pm Halstead Town v Saffron Walden Town
12pm Harwich & Parkeston v Little Oakley
7.45pm Hullbridge Sports v Benfleet
3pm Ilford v Barking
3pm Romford v Frenford
4pm White Ensign v Great Wakering Rovers