However tomorrow night’s game turns out, it is unlikely to match the finale of Saturday’s dramatic comeback that earned a 3-3 draw against White Ensign after Boro found themselves three goals behind with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

Saturday’s game was the fifth time that Romford had retrieved a three goal deficit to earn a draw. The previous occasions were in 2002 against Eton Manor in an Essex Senior League game played at Wadham Lodge, against Witham Town in the Isthmian League in 2015, at home to Woodford Town in the ESL in 2022, and most recently at Benfleet last season.

The visitors to Mayesbrook Park tomorrow evening are Little Oakley, who currently sit second in the table and are unbeaten on the road so far this season. On Saturday they were 3-1 winners at The Mile End Stadium against league leaders, SOUL Tower Hamlets.

Previous Meetings:

Tomorrow’s game will be the eleventh match between Romford and Little Oakley, with Boro ahead over the previous meetings, having won six times compared to Little Oakley’s three wins.

The first meeting between the teams was an FA Vase tie in November 2022 at Mayesbrook Park when Romford were 2-0 winners through Camilo Restrepo’s brace, but Boro followed that up with defeat in the Essex Senior League fixture at the same venue when Oakley went home 3-2 winners after Boro had led 2-0 at the interval.

Romford faced Little Oakley four times last season. The two league games ended in away wins with Little Oakley winning 2-1 at Mayesbrook Park, but Boro won 1-0 at The Memorial Ground on a rain sodden evening; Joe Paxman splashed home the winner. The sides also met in the Essex Senior Cup and the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy with Little Oakley coming out on top in both; they won 3-1 in the ESC at The Memorial Ground and then won a penalty shoot-out in the PBMT at Mayesbrook Park.

This Season:

With 31 points from 14 games, Little Oakley are currently second in the table to SOUL Tower Hamlets, whom they trail by just two points and have the advantage of a game in hand. Oakley’s win at the Mile End Stadium was their fourth away from home this season and with their three other away trips ending in draws, they are unbeaten on their travels. Their other wins have come at Hullbridge Sports, Basildon United, and Halstead Town. To date, Little Oakley’s only league defeat came in a home game against Woodford Town.

In cup competitions this season, Little Oakley were beaten at Cockfosters in the FA Cup Preliminary Round and after wins over Colney Heath and Ilford, they went out of the FA Vase at home to Harpenden Town in the Second Round. In the BBC Essex Senior Cup, Little Oakley followed up a win at Frenford with a 5-0 pasting of Dagenham & Redbridge before falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Billericay Town.

Leading scorer for Little Oakley this season is Louie Arnold who has six goals, while the usually prolific Darren Mills – who scored both his side’s goals in the ESL game against Boro last season – has just two to his name and has not featured for the side since August.

This week’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Tuesday 25th November:
7.45pm Great Wakering Rovers v Barking
7.45pm Harwich & Parkeston v Benfleet
7.45pm Romford v Little Oakley
7.45pm Saffron Walden Town v Frenford

Wednesday 26th November:
7.45pm Hackney Wick v White Ensign