West Essex (1) 1, Romford (1) 1 – Saturday 25th July 2026 – Pre-Season Friendly

Boro’s pre-season continued on another hot afternoon, on a narrow and bone hard pitch in desperate need of watering, with defeat avoided for the first time after a 1-1 draw with Essex Senior League rivals West Essex.

In a game of few chances, it was West Essex who had the first sight of goal with Lamar Johnson having to dive to his left to keep out a low shot after four minutes and when Boro regained possession a quick break won a corner at the other end.

Fabio Vieira broke free on the left and set up Boro’s goal after 27 minutes with Prince Sikiru converting the cross by firing into the roof of the net from six yards. Lamar Johnson made an excellent save, low to his right, to preserve the lead after 33 minutes and five minutes before the interval Flynn Hamilton almost doubled Boro’s advantage but his scissors kick struck the crossbar.

West Essex drew level a minute before half-time when a low cross from the left went in after a number of deflections. That was the end of the scoring as neither goal was unduly threatened after the interval. The best of the few chances that there were fell to Romford and came right at the end. After 86 minutes Dhillon Sandhu found Prince Sikiru, but his effort went wide and then two minutes from the end Sandhu – looking close to being offside – cut in from the left but could not direct his shot on target.

Romford Starting XI: Lamar Johnson, Greig Stewart, Teddy Desmond, Alfie Osbourne, Trialist, Trialist, Ben McCrow, Prince Sikiru, Trialist, Flynn Hamilton, Fabio Vieira. Subs: George Sapsford, Rhian Fowler, Trialist, Trialist, Ekow Owusu-Boakye, Dhillan Sandhu, Elton Gjonbala

Photo by Bob Knightley