Romford (2) 2, Barton Rovers (0) 1 – Saturday 8th August 2026 – FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round

Jaxon Brown and Jonathon Evans scored the goals that propelled Romford into the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, setting up a home tie against Spartan South Midlands Football League side Baldock Town on 22nd August.

Early Boro pressure forced two corners in quick succession. Freddie Tandon met the first delivery from Jonathon Evans after three minutes only for his header to be cleared off the line, and when Evans sent over another, Tandon headed wide.

Barton had an effort from Jadell Brown that was off target after five minutes, but Romford were quickly on the attack once more and Rovers goalkeeper Matt Boylan had to beat out a shot from Jaxon Brown before Boro took an eighth minute lead. Ben Sargent played a long ball from the right back position that Jaxon Brown latched onto, firing a shot past Boylan.

Ben McCrow pounced on a defensive error to get in a shot that Boylan blocked in the 25th minute, but Barton broke quickly from the loose ball and a cross by Lucas Jordan created a shooting chance that fortunately for Boro, was off target. McCrow then ended a strong run with a shot that went wide while Barton had a chance from a corner that the Boro defence blocked.

With half-time fast approaching, Boro got a second goal. Jaxon Brown – who had earlier been cautioned for simulation after going down in the penalty area – was put through and was brought down by Boylan. Jonathan Evans stepped up and sent the Barton keeper the wrong way from the spot.

There was still time before the interval for Rovers’ George Joyce to put a shot over the Boro crossbar, and after the break the visitors pushed forward concertedly in search of a way back into the game. With 64 minutes played, the visitors halved Boro’s lead when Connor Bernhardt struck a low shot from outside the box that went in by a post. They might have drawn level in the 66th minute had Tyrone Shiham’s shot been a little lower; as it was, it crashed off the top of the crossbar. Despite Rovers having a large chuck of second half possession, these efforts apart, the Boro goal was largely untroubled. Barton forced a number of corners that were generally overhit or well defended and despite full-back Murphy Culkin trying a number of long throws, none created a clear opening.

Barton sent goalkeeper Boylan forward when they won some late corners, but his presence proved no more effective than that of their regular forwards, and Boro held out for a deserved win.

Boro will now face Baldock Town in the Preliminary Round after their 3-0 win over Kempston Rovers, with the tie being a repeat of the 2018 match at the same stage that Boro won 3-2 at a rain sodden Rookery Hill.

Romford: Conor Beattie, Teddy Desmond, Freddie Tandon, Julius Nwike, Ben Sargent, Greig Stewart, Alfie Osbourne, Aron Gordon (Ekow Owusu-Boakye 72'), Jonathan Evans (Fabio Vieira 73'), Ben McCrow, Jaxon Brown (Chris John 85') Unused subs: George Sapsford, Jake Barlow