Romford (0) 0, Southend United (1) 2 – Saturday 11th July 2026 – Friendly

A goal in each half gave a Southend United side comprised of academy players and those from The Shrimpers Under 23 side a win over Boro in the opening pre-season friendly.

The visitors went ahead after 32 minutes with a rising shot from just inside the Boro penalty area and they doubled their lead after 56 minutes when Boro’s trialist goalkeeper pushed out a shot only for the rebound to be quickly converted.

On an energy sapping afternoon better suited to cricket than football and in which there were few chances at either end, Romford’s best efforts in the first half both came from Ben McCrow. In the 41st minute McCrow cut in from the right and hit the foot of a post with a left foot shot and then the penultimate minute of the half his low cross was deflected against a post by a defender and behind for a corner.

Southend kept the ball well in the second half, limiting Boro’s goalscoring opportunities, the best of which fell to one of a number of Trialists who was denied by the Southend goalkeeper after being put through after 54 minutes, while another member of the Trialist family had a shot blocked by the visiting keeper just before the hour mark.

A Southend striker was foiled by Boro’s substitute keeper at his near post after the forward had broken through.

For the record, Southend’s goalscorers were Nikolay Zlatev and Brandon Dadson.

Romford Starting XI; Trialist GK, Ben Sargent, Callum Bolger, Chris John, Rhian Fowler, Greig Stewart, Prince Sikiru, Ben McCrow, Flynn Hamilton, Aron Gordon, Matt Price. Substitutes: Jake Barlow, Ekow Owusu-Boayake, Elton Gjonbala plus Trialists – all used.

Report: Mike Woods