Rain, and a strong wind blowing in from the Thames Estuary made for difficult conditions, and an early ball out of defence that blew back towards the Boro back four showed that keeping the ball on the deck would be a preferable tactic, which Boro employed to good effect, as they carved out some decent first half chances.

The conditions played a part in the goal that gave Southend Manor a third minute lead. A wind assisted free-kick was swung in from the left flank that Leon Lewis met with a firm header that found the bottom corner.

Romford took some time to master the conditions, but having done so, created a flurry of chances. Manor keeper Bradley Davison made two fine saves in quick succession, from Hassan Nalbant and then from Finlay Dorrell in the 23rd minute, and after 33 minutes Dorrell – well found by Kris Newby’s crossfield pass – beat Davison only for a covering Southend defender to get back and clear.

After 35 minutes Nalbant beat his man on the left and his low cross found Newby whose shot was cleared for a corner, from which Boro deservedly equalised, when Newby’s corner was headed home by Michael Turner.

Jack Glenister picked up a booking for a foul on the halfway line, joining Southend goalscorer Lewis in referee Jide Ogunba’s notebook, the home defender having been cautioned for a foul on Nalbant. Further chances fell Boro’s way as Nalbant had a shot beaten away by Davison after being set up by Praise Ogbebor, and then Ogbebor – having been well found by Glenister’s pass – cut inside but shot over the bar, before Finlay Dorrell was denied by the keeper from Henry Hart’s pass.

Having been on top in the first half despite playing against the wind, Romford almost completely dominated the second period, hampered only by an occasional tendency to hit passes that the wind carried away from their intended target.

Within a minute of the second half Romford went ahead when Kris Newby’s corner from the left was met by Michael Turner for his third goal in two games. Almost immediately Boro nearly scored again when a long clearance caught out Davison, who – having advanced outside his penalty area – could only deflect the ball wide of his goal with his head.

Charlie Morris had not long replaced Praise Ogbebor when he made it three after 64 minutes, and again it was a Newby corner from the left that was the source, the ball dropping handily for Morris to score from close range. A minute later and Romford might have scored again, but this time Davison saved Dorrell’s shot, pushing it round the post for a corner.

A rare foray into Romford territory saw Southend Manor pull one back after 79 minutes when Jake Anderson – who had been virtually a spectator in the second half – failed to gather a cross from the left and Callum Morris tapped home from virtually on the goal line.

Any hopes that Southend might have harboured of a comeback were extinguished after 81 minutes however, when Charlie Morris scored the sort of long range goal inevitable on a night like this, spotting Davison off his line and lofting the ball over him from just inside the Southend half.

Kris Newby picked up a booking in the closing stages following a fracas on the half way line in what will be the influential midfielder’s last game of the season before starting a four match ban that kicks in on the Saturday of Boro’s game against Stansted.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Henry Hart, Danny Hurford (Bleron Ademi, 46m), Kris Newby, Michael Turner, Scott Doe, Praise Ogbebor (Charlie Morris, 60m), Jack Glenister (Tyrese Sibanda, 70m), Hassan Nalbant, Charlie Cox (Lewis Gardener, 75m), Finlay Dorrell.