There are few tougher games in the Essex Senior League than a trip to Ashton Playing Fields, where Boro travel to tomorrow night to face in form Woodford Town, who have lost just once on their home pitch this season.

Like Romford, Woodford Town were beaten by the weather last weekend with their home game against Halstead Town victim to the freezing conditions. Also like Romford, they were in action in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy on Tuesday evening, but while Boro were beaten on penalties by Little Oakley after 90 goal-less minutes, Woodford were securing a Semi-Final place with a 5-1 win at Hullbridge Sports.

A Brief History of Woodford Town:

Woodford Town were originally formed in 1937 and were founder members of the Delphian League. During the 1960s, the club had two spells in both the Greater London League and the Metropolitan League and in the 1970s played in the Southern League, the Essex Senior League, and the Athenian League.

Since 1993, when the club lost its home at Snakes Lane and after being were voted out of the Essex Senior League in 2003, the club’s history becomes somewhat convoluted with Bush Hill Rangers and Mauritius Sports both involved in the club’s continuation. In 2017 there was a return to the Essex Senior League with the club reverting to their original name – Woodford Town Football Club.

Previous Meetings:

Romford’s first meeting with Woodford Town was an Essex Senior League game played at Ferndale, then home of East Ham United, in August 1992. The game ended 1-1 with Steve Game scoring Boro’s goal. Romford met that version of Woodford Town on three other occasions, winning all three games without conceding a goal.

Between 2007 and 2009, Romford met one of Woodford’s fore-runners, Mauritius Sports four times, winning three and drawing one, and against the Woodford Town that stem from that club, there have also been four Essex Senior League encounters. Honours have been even so far, with each side winning once and the other two games ending in draws. In October 2022, Romford retrieved a 3-0 half-time deficit to earn a point in a 3-3 draw at Mayesbrook Park, but Woodford won the return 2-0 on a frosty and misty evening in Woodford. Last season, Romford won 2-1 in the league game played at Rookery Hill thanks to goals from Charlie Morris and Finlay Dorrell, while in the return at Ashton Playing Fields, it ended 1-1 with Kris Newby scoring for Boro from the penalty spot.

Current Form:

Woodford have won seven of their last ten league outings with their most recent victory coming at Barking on the Friday before Christmas when they came from behind to win 2-1. Their last league outing was a home game against Buckhurst Hill which ended in a 2-2 draw, prior to which they had won five on the trot. The only side to beat Woodford in their last ten outings were Saffron Walden Town who won 1-0 at Ashton Playing Fields in early November.

A miserly defence that has conceded just 13 goals in 20 league games – the best record in the division – has been the bedrock of Woodford’s success, while they have been no slouches at the other end of the pitch having scored 45 times. Woodford started the season with six clean sheets and it wasn’t until the 607th minute of their Essex Senior League campaign that they conceded in a 4-1 win at White Ensign.

Woodford’s goals have been shared around with no fewer than 18 players hitting the target in all competitions this season, while David Gokou-Siakouri is leading scorer with 10 goals.

Despite their dominant league form, Woodford met with no success in the FA Cup or FA Vase, losing 3-1 at Benfleet in Extra-Preliminary Round of the former, and on penalties at Hadleigh United in the latter. They are still in both the Errington Challenge Cup and Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy, however.

The Woodford squad has recently been supplemented with the signing of former Romford midfielder Steve Carvell, while other former Boro players registered with The Woods are Manny Agboola, Jaydon Charles, Ernest Okoh, and Sonny Shilling.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Woodford Town’s home ground at Ashton Playing Fields, Chigwell Road, Woodford is about 8 miles from Romford. The Post Code for Sat Navs is IG8 8AA and there is ample car parking at the ground

By public transport, the 275 bus from Fulwell Cross to Walthamstow stops opposite the ground. The nearest station is Woodford on the Central Line from where the ground is a 15 minute walk.

With Ashtons being an athletics stadium, the pitch is some distance from the spectator facilities, as you can see from the aerial photo below.

Saturday’s Essex Senior League fixtures:
Barking v Athletic Newham
Buckhurst Hill v West Essex
Frenford v Benfleet
Halstead Town v FC Clacton
Little Oakley v Hullbridge Sports
Saffron Walden Town v Great Wakering Rovers
Takeley v Stansted

FA Vase Fourth Round:
White Ensign v Erith & Belvedere