A season we are all trying desperately to forget draws to a close on Saturday with the visit to Mayesbrook Park of Witham Town. By any measure this is a game between the two of the three worst sides in the division – the league table doesn’t lie, after all – with just nine league wins between us; if you add Witham’s points to ours, you only reach 14th place!

Last Monday, while Romford were being beaten at Brentwood Town, Witham faced Heybridge Swifts at home and led 2-1 as the game entered the 90th minute – when Swifts equalised. That result not only leaves Witham in need of a win against Boro to avoid automatic relegation, but also means that like Boro, Witham have won just one home game in the league all season, and that was their first home league fixture, way back in August, against Tilbury.

A win for Witham on Saturday would be guarantee them a third bottom finish and thus avoid the second automatic relegation spot, which would go to Barking. Depending on the Points Per Game total for Witham and seven other Step 4 clubs destined to finish 18th in their respective divisions, they may then be required to face a Step 5 club in a promotion/relegation play-off. All will become clear when the play-off formats are announced next Monday.

Second bottom Barking are away to Tilbury and must better Witham’s result against Boro to avoid automatic relegation.

Previous meetings:

Romford have met Witham Town 21 times in various competitions over the years, with 18 games in the Isthmian League, of which Boro have won 5, lost 8, and drawn 5. The most recent meeting between the sides was at Witham back in September, when two goals from Christian Adu-Gyamfi, and a penalty save by Brandon Bullman earned Boro a 2-0 win. Last season in one of the few games played before lockdown, the teams met at Mayesbrook Park and Witham were 2-1 winners.

This season:

Witham began the season with three victories on the trot, winning at Great Wakering Rovers and at Hullbridge Sports, and beating Tilbury at home. Since that three point haul against Hullbridge in August, they have found wins hard to come by, not winning in the league again until January, when the won at Bury Town. Their subsequent wins have also been away from home and they have picked up impressive victories at Maldon & Tiptree and Grays Athletic.

Like the majority of clubs in our division, Witham have changed managers this season. When Marc Benterman left the club in November 2021, former Boro player Chris Taylor was appointed interim manager, an appointment that was made permanent in January this year.

Witham have found goals only marginally easier to come by that Boro this season. Leading scorer is Ramiah Mills, who has 9 while Adam Vyse has 8.

With Aveley crowned champions last Monday, and Canvey Island, Stowmarket Town, Brentwood Town, and Felixstowe & Walton United all assured of play-off places, the real drama is at the foot of the table where supporters of both Witham Town and Barking will be keeping a keen eye on the scores at Tilbury and Romford.

Saturday’s fixtures:
AFC Sudbury v Basildon United
Felixstowe & Walton United v Coggeshall Town
Grays Athletic v Maldon & Tiptree
Great Wakering Rovers v Dereham Town
Hashtag United v Canvey Island
Heybridge Swifts v Bury Town
Hullbridge Sports v Aveley
Romford v Witham Town
Stowmarket Town v Brentwood Town
Tilbury v Barking

Alan Blackholly’s picture shows action from Boro’s 2-0 win at Witham earlier in the season.