Romford (0) 0, Stanway Rovers (3) 4 – Errington Challenge Cup Final – Wednesday 8th May 2024

For long periods of this game, Romford were on top but Stanway proved deadly in front of goal and made the most of the chances that came their way. The fact that they were three goals to the good after just a quarter of this match had been played effectively put an end to the game as a contest.

Rovers went ahead with what was their first real incursion into Romford territory when George Okoye ran onto a through ball in the fifth minute, got the wrong side of Danny Hurford and Darren Phillips and rolled a low shot into the far corner.

Boro had decent chances thereafter. Michael Bakare had a free-kick from 25 yards comfortably saved by Stanway keeper Callum Robinson and Charlie Morris then shot wide after winning the ball in midfield and exchanging passes with Bakare. Jacob Wiggins then found Morris on the right but his intended cut-back failed to find Bakare and Stanway cleared. Between those chances Rovers had a opportunity of their own when Boro conceded possession under pressure and Tom Maycock shot over the bar.

That proved to be a brief reprieve for Boro as Stanway scored a second after 22 minutes when Reece Conway got on the end of a cross from the right and headed home. The third goal came less than sixty seconds later as Boro went backwards from their own kick off and when Kris Newby was dispossessed, Tom Maycock placed a shot into Baker’s far corner.

Michael Bakare’s shot on the turn from Danny Hurford’s cross rose narrowly over the bar and then Charlie Morris went close with a header that hit the bar from Kris Newby’s cross. Boro created two more chances as the first half wound down. Jacob Wiggins struck a free-kick from just outside the box that Robinson diverted onto the crossbar and away for a corner from which Bakare found Morris who swept the ball narrowly wide.

The only caution of the first half went to Stanway’s Maycock for kicking the ball away, but there was the unusual sight of a card rescinded after the break. Jacob Wiggins was shown a yellow card for a foul on the touchline, but after consulting his assistant Chris Parkinson, referee Liam Giles withdrew it.

Romford had the lion’s share of second half possession and Sam Deering’s on target shot was blocked by a defender after 54 minutes. Kris Newby had a cross put behind by a Stanway defender with what looked like a hand and from the flag kick, the ball fell to Jacob Wiggins who shot just over.

A fierce shot by Newby was pushed away from a corner by Robinson and Adalberto Pinto headed Newby’s delivery over the bar. Pinto then became the first Boro player to receive a card that counted when he was cautioned for pulling back a Stanway forward.

Stanway’s Freddy Cooper’s powerful header from a driven right wing cross went just over after 86 minutes and with just a minute of the ninety left, Stanway bagged a fourth when Ricky Tabard scored with a low shot. Boro went close to a consolation when Jacob Wiggins played a one-two with Hassan Nalbant but put his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Not the ideal preparation for the FA Vase Final on Saturday, but that will be a whole different ball game.

Romford: Wayne Baker, Kris Newby, Darren Phillips (Adalberto Pinto 46m), Jamie Hursit, Danny Hurford, Ash Siddik (Hassan Nalbant, 46m), Lee Hursit (Sam Deering, 46m), Jaiden Babalola, Jacob Wiggins, Charlle Morris (Reece McGovern, 82m), Michael Bakare (Toheeb Elegushi, 60m)

Report: Mike Woods