A 79th minute Kris Newby penalty clinched the points as Boro came from behind to record their first home league win of the season.

There were changes from Saturday’s defeat against Redbridge with Martin Touhy making his first start as Emmanuel Robe dropped to the bench, John Mbamarah coming into defence in place of Tambeson Eyong, and new signing Jamie Hursit (formerly of Grays Athletic, Hornchurch, and Hashtag United) joining him in the back four.

Romford impressed with their early play; pacy and accurate passing threatened to unlock the Takeley defence more than once, but almost inevitably, it was the visitors who took the lead. A long pass to the left after just seven minutes found Teddy Hall, and he cut inside to fire a shot across Billy Lawlor and in at the far post.

Boro’s best early chance fell to Kris Newby two minutes later when a corner was half cleared to him and he worked himself into a good position, only to fire his shot over the bar. Hall then almost gave Takeley a two goal lead when he found himself clean through, and Romford were grateful for the intervention of Scott Doe who cleared for a corner.

Boro were on level terms after 23 minutes through Charlie Morris. Jake Gordon was well found in space on the right and his low cross was fired home by Morris. Gordon himself then had a shot well blocked by Matt Gill in the Takeley goal after Alex Balisani had set him up after 29 minutes, and after 35 minutes Morris was just off target with a shot on the turn. That proved to be Morris’s last significant action as he went off two minutes before the break to be replaced by Jesse Olukolu.

Takeley almost capitalised on a wayward free kick from keeper Billy Lawlor six minutes before the break, but to the relief of the Boro camp the ball hit the post, although there was an offside flag from the assistant in any case.

The second half was somewhat more fragmented than the first, and began with Takeley missing a glorious opportunity to go back in front. Lawlor could only parry a low shot from outside the box and ex-Boro forward Warren Kayembe followed up with a shot that somehow went wide of the far post when it looked destined for the net.

What began as a minor altercation between Boro’s Kris Newby and Takeley’s Jordan Westcott after 64 minutes (for which both were booked), threatened to escalate as players from both sides indulged in some pushing and shoving, but referee Benjamin Horne – who handled the game well - restored order and sent Tambeson Eyong (who had been on the pitch for just two minutes as a substitute for Jacob Wiggins) to the sin bin for his protests.

Kris Newby fired a free-kick wide after 73 minutes, having been fouled by Theo Campbell, who was booked, an event that became significant later on, and after 75 minutes Takeley went close to a second when a combination of Lawlor and a fellow Boro defender denied Coby Miles, blocking his fierce shot from the edge of the box.

Kris Newby converted a penalty for what proved to be the winner after Jesse Olukolu had received the ball from a short corner, jinked into the box, and been brought down. Takeley’s Campbell saw yellow a second time – and subsequently red – and although keeper Gill went the right way, Newby’s penalty was too well placed for him to prevent the goal.

Right on full time Emmanuel Robe might have given Boro the cushion of a two goal lead, but he rolled the ball just wide after being set up by Balisani, and in the third minute of stoppage time Takeley won a corner for which keeper Gill came up. The corner was cleared for a throw, from which we had the unusual sight of a goalkeeper throwing the ball in from the touchline. A soft header was easily gathered by Lawlor and Boro held on for maximum points.

Romford: Billy Lawlor, Jamie Hursit, Danny Hurford, Kris Newby, Scott Doe, John Mbamarah, Jake Gordon (Tyrese Sibanda, 54m), Jacob Wiggins (Tambeson Eyong, 62m), Martin Touhy (Emmanuel Robe, 54m), Alex Balisani, Charlie Morris (Jesse Olukolu, 42m). Unused sub: Toby Barlow