May & Baker Eastbrook Community 0, Romford 2

A goal in each half eased Romford into the Quarter-Finals of the Essex Thames-side Trophy at a misty Parkside, and although there was clearly a gulf between Boro and their Step 6 opponents, May & Baker fully contributed to an entertaining, if low key, affair.

Romford were content to play the ball around in the early stages, while May & Baker adopted a more direct approach, and Danny Cossington had to react to clear a dangerous cross before M&B's Josh Lowbridge had the first shot at goal after 12 minutes but his long-range effort was off-target.

George Woodward was involved in the best of Romford's early attacks. First he delivered a good through ball to Inesh Sumithran which found the Boro youngster - playing much further forward than on some occasions - offside, and then he was inches away from the opening goal with a header from a corner.

All too often in the first-half, Romford found themselves caught in M&B's offside trap, but with five minutes remaining till the break, Boro deservedly got their noses in front. Reece Tranter's through pass found Warren Kayembe on the right flank, and he drove forward into the box and fired a low shot past Worboyes in the M&B goal and into the far corner.

May & Baker put Romford under pressure in the early stages of the second half, but the best they could muster were off-target efforts from Carl Patten, who had been given too much space, and Kane Messenger, whose free-kick from a good position went extravagantly wide of goal.

After 58 minutes Kayembe was again put through by Tranter, but on this occasion pulled his shot wide, but M&B then had a good chance when Nathan Joseph had to clear off the line from a corner.

Romford put the game beyond their hosts' reach after 67 minutes with a well crafted goal from a good passing move that typified the way they had approached the game all evening. Tranter played the ball wide to Inesh Sumithran on the right and his low, hard cross was met by Theo Costa, who side footed home from close range. Another similarly sweeping move really ought to have brought a third Boro goal ten minutes later when Danny Cossington drove forward from the back, found Tranter wide on the left and his low cross was met by the onrushing Nathan Joseph who unfortunately could only divert the ball over the bar.

Although May & Baker worked hard to create chances in the second half they were prevented from fashioning anything clear cut by the Romford defence meaning that Jack Riddell was largely untroubled, and it was only in the 83rd minute that the Boro goalkeeper was forced into a save of any note, when he got down well to save a close range shot with a foot.

Unusually, the game ended without a second of additional time played in either half, and with Boro safely through to the next round. Tougher challenges than this will be faced, but a win and a rare clean sheet will do the side's confidence no harm whatever.

Romford: Jack Riddell, Nathan Joseph, David Brookman, George Woodward, Antonius Anastasios, Danny Cossington, Warren Kayembe (Malaki Toussaint, 79m), Mohamed Abuker (Charlie Little, 79m), Reece Tranter, Theo Costa, Inesh Sumithran. Subs not used: Keiron Owusu, Danny Nesbitt, Dilan Thandi