Romford travelled to The Fenlands having been somewhat unexpectedly installed as favourites to win the FA Vase by bookies BetVictor; they returned with their odds shortened after a relatively comfortable win over Step 6 opposition.

Whittlesey goalkeeper Lewis Elsom was the busier of the two keepers in the early stages, turning away Camilo Restrepo’s shot for a corner, and grateful to see efforts from Kris Newby and Emmanuel Ogunrinde narrowly miss the target.

Some of the home side’s challenges were drawing the displeasure of both the officials and the Romford bench, but ironically the first name to go in referee Darling’s book was that of Boro’s Jacob Wiggins, and it was from a free-kick for a foul that Whittlesey went ahead after 36 minutes. Jack Carter’s shot from the set piece was straight at Jake Anderson, but it proved to hot to hold for the Boro keeper, and Kieran Hibbins followed up to score from close range.

Romford’s response was immediate, and George Cox levelled the scores within 60 seconds, curling a shot into the top corner from the right hand side of the penalty area. Lewis Smith and Kris Newby were denied by Elsom as Boro ended the half strongly.

The second half was played largely in the Whittlesey half, with Boro regularly carving a path through the home defence, although Tambeson Eyong was forced into action to deny De Souza before Lewis Smith might have done better than to shoot wide from outside the box after 55 minutes. After 58 minutes Smith put Boro ahead however, with a low shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Restrepo.

A rare Whittlesey attack saw Jones De Souza fire a shot over the bar, but Boro looked to have added to their lead when Ogunrinde converted a shot by Smith that had rebounded to him but was ruled offside. Emmanuel Robe – on for Jamie Hursit – shot over the bar as Boro looked to extend their lead, which they duly did after 79 minutes. There were appeals for handball on the edge of the home penalty, but Kris Newby made them irrelevant by striking a low shot past Elsom from 30 yards.

Whittlesey’s efforts to get back into then game were largely confined to off-target efforts from range, although Jake Anderson had to come off his line to deny the dangerous De Souza before the game entered added time, during which a free-kick from Whittlesey flew over the bar.

This win takes Romford into the last 32 of the competition for the first time since 1996. That year ended in defeat in the last 16 at the hands of Bedlington Terriers, but perhaps this year Boro can go further still; BetVictor seem to think that they can.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Jamie Hursit (Emmanuel Robe, 71m), Warren Beattie, Jabob Wiggins, Tambeson Eyong, Bleron Ademi, Emmanuel Ogunrinde (Tyrese Sibanda, 81m), Kris Newby, Lewis Smith, George Cox, Camilo Restrepo (Jack Glenister, 82m)