Romford entertain Hullbridge Sports tomorrow evening for the second time this season, this time in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy. The league game in August ended with the visitors 2-1 winners and Boro will be hoping to avenge that defeat and progress to the Second Round of the competition.

Please note that season tickets are not valid for tomorrow night’s game. If the scores are level after 90 minutes a penalty shoot-out will determine the winners; there is no extra-time.

The earlier league game saw Romford well beaten despite the apparently close scoreline with the visitors taking two of the few chances that came their way while Boro – who almost scored in the opening seconds when Christian Adu Gyamfi was denied by the visiting keeper pictured – were restricted to a mere consolation goal from Teddy Desmond in stoppage time at the end of the second half.

Previous Meetings:

In 36 previous meetings between the teams, Romford have come out as winners 23 times and losing eight. One of those defeats came last season at Mayesbrook Park when Boro were in the middle of a run of inconsistent results. Sports won 2-1 with Boro’s goal scored by Sheri Artmeladze. The match at Hullbridge last season ended in a 3-3 draw after goals from Praise Ogbebor, Arnold Mengi, and Ken Feyi had given Boro a 3-0 lead that was pegged back by the hosts and with Boro defender Derek Feyi sent off.

The very first meeting between the teams was way back in September 1992 when Romford went to Lower Road for an Essex Senior Trophy tie and were beaten 5-2. Romford then won 16 of the next 17 encounters with one game drawn. Included in those fixtures was the 9-0 victory in an Essex Senior League game at Rush Green in 1995 in which Kevin Rendell netted four goals.

This Season:

Hullbridge are currently one place below Romford in seventeenth spot with 10 points from 12 games. Like Boro, they have yet to win a league game on their own pitch, but have won three times on their travels having beaten Buckhurst Hill and Frenford (where they won 8-0) as well as Romford. Their last six outing have all ended in defeat, and during that run they have scored just once, in a 3-1 home defeat against Witham Town in the BBC Essex Senior Cup. They did run SOUL Tower Hamlets close however, as they were beaten only 1-0 by the league leaders at the Mile End Stadium. Last Saturday they travelled to Ilford and went home without a goal or a point as they were beaten 2-0.

In the cups they beat Basildon United in the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup but were then beaten 2-1 at Brightlingsea Regent, but they did progress through two rounds of the FA Vase, beating Stansted 5-0 and Harlow Town on penalties before losing at home to Whittlesea Athletic in the First Round. They also beat Harlow Town in the BBC Essex Senior Cup before exiting to Witham Town.

Leading scorer for Hullbridge this season is Tobias Braney with 13 goals from 14 starts - including two against Boro - but he has recently left and joined Tilbury.

Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy:

Great Wakering Rovers are the current trophy holders. They beat Little Oakley 1-0 in last season’s final. Having received a bye in the First Round last season, Boro beat Sawbridgeworth Town 2-1 but exited the competition in the Third Round after a penalty shoot-out against Little Oakley.

There are four first round ties being played in the competition this week. The fixtures are:

Tuesday 28th October:
Athletic Newham v Saffron Walden Town
Harwich & Parkeston v West Essex
Romford v Hullbridge Sports

Wednesday 29th October:
Woodford Town v Ilford