Romford (0) 0, Hadleigh United (2) 3 – Saturday 10th October 2026 – FA Vase First Round Proper

Where do you start after this very disappointing result? It’s true that Romford had the lion's share of possession but they failed to convert it into goals, while the visitors made the most of the chances that came their way and rarely looked like surrendering the two goal advantage they had built by the 18th minute and to which they added with a third in the 72nd minute.

Romford kept possession consistently, playing the ball across the park and backwards, but incisive forward passes were in short supply and although the frame of the goal was struck twice and Hadleigh keeper Ryan Lees made a couple of saves in the closing stages, otherwise, Boro rarely looked like breaching the visitors' solid back-line.

There was just eight minutes played when Hadleigh went ahead. Kolade Salahudeen’s pass across the back put Jake Barlow under pressure and Rocco Leeks pounced, taking possession and driving a shot past Lamar Johnson.

Boro created an opening after 16 minutes when Matt Blake's cross was parried by Lees, and when the ball found Aron Gordon, he shot wide. Two minutes later, Hadleigh showed Boro how to do it and doubled their lead. A shot from the right side of the penalty area was pushed out by Johnson, the ball was played across goal and Curtis Harvey was on hand to score from six yards.

Boro looked to get back into the game and Callum Burkey's pass found Jaxon Brown in a good position after 22 minutes, but his shot was blocked for a corner. Burkey then had a free-kick turned round the post by Lees for a corner from which Brown rattled the crossbar with his header.

A curling shot by Greig Stewart hit a post in the 43rd minute, but in stoppage time the visitors went close to a third when Leeks put in a shot that Johnson pushed round the post.

Hadleigh looked to have gone three ahead five minutes after the break when Shane Murphy was put through and found the net, only for a late flag from the assistant referee to rule the goal out for offside.

Prince Sikiru cut in from the right but Lees saved his low shot before Boro had the ball in the net only to be denied by a flag for offside with 55 minutes played (main photo, above).

Lees gobbled up a dangerous cross after 67 minutes and launched an attack from which Murphy really ought to have made it three rather than shoot wide. The third Hadleigh goal wasn't long in coming however, as after 72 minutes Salaudeen's ineffectual clearance was intercepted by Kieran Driver and he beat Johnson with a well placed shot.

The dangerous Leeks shot over after 75 minutes before Boro finally managed to create some decent chances. Sikiru had a shot turned over the bar by Lees after 77 minutes and in stoppage time Kelson McFarlane had one effort blocked on the line after Lees had pushed out a shot and then could only watch as Lees turned his shot round the post.

Hadleigh's win was built on quick breaks, incisive finishing and solid defending that was in stark contrast to Romford's patient, but ponderous and often over elaborate build up. Games are won by goals, not by possession alone and Boro must address this if the season is not to lapse into mundanity.

Romford: Lamar Johnson, Greig Stewart (Fabio Vieira 46'), Teddy Desmond (Ekow Owusu-Boakye 84'), Alfie Osborne, Jake Barlow, Kolade Salaudeen (Kelson McFarlane 72'). Aron Gordon, Prince Sikiru (Julius Nwike 90+1'), Matt Blake, Jaxon Brown, Callum Burkey. Unused sub: George Sapsford.