Any neutrals at Burroughs Park must surely have left long before the end of this largely incident free game that really deserved to end goal-less. As it was, a goal of disheartening similarity to a number that Boro have conceded recently settled this contest in favour of the hosts.

Twenty-three minutes had been played when debut-making goalkeeper Louis Hawes came to the edge of his penalty area to try and collect a through ball, only to be beaten to it by White Ensign’s Emmanuel Abudiore, who poked the ball past him and into the net. There was little consolation in the fact that after conceding seven goals in the opening seven minutes of the last four fixtures, Boro this time avoided letting one in for a quarter of the game.

In a first half strewn with injuries to Ensign players, Boro had the better early chances. Charlie Morris charged down a clearance in the very first minute and might have scored had the ball not run so wide of goal that his attempt from a very acute angle was cleared, and then Hassan Nalbant had a shot saved by Ensign’s former Boro keeper Luis Shamshoum.

Hassan Nalbant challenges Ensign keeper Shamshoum for a high ball in a rare piece of goalmouth action. Charlie Morris (10) is the other Boro player. Picture: Alan Blackholly.

After thirteen minutes Ensign’s Abudiore hit a post, but Boro went close with Scott Doe heading a Jamie Hursit corner narrowly over and Nalbant controlling a pass from Doe and seeing his shot on the turn pushed away for a corner by Shamshoum. Nalbant then forced Shamshoum into another save with a shot from a free-kick just outside the box, but immediately, Ensign broke away to score what proved to be the winner.

The last significant action of the half came in the second minute of stoppage time when Ensign’s Kyle McAlindon headed Jamie Hursit’s right-wing free-kick narrowly over his own cross bar.

There were more substitutions than goalmouth incidents after the break, while Hassan Nalbant picked up the only yellow card of the afternoon for needlessly hauling back an Ensign defender and conceding a free-kick rather than winning a corner.

The best chances for Boro – the only chances of note in the second forty-five minutes – were an 82nd minute shot from Jacob Wiggins that was a yard or two wide, and a ferocious effort from Anthony Furlonge - who had cut inside from the right flank - that flew wide by a slightly narrower margin.

Ensign might have doubled their lead in the last minute after Jack Glenister – hobbling somewhat from an earlier tackle – was unwisely given the ball by Boro keeper Hawes, who redeemed himself with a low save from Joe Gregory after the Ensign forward had dispossessed Glenister.

Romford: Louis Hawes, Anthony Furlonge, Danny Hurford (Bleron Ademi, 76m), Jacob Wiggins, Scott Doe, Liam Boxall, Jamie Hursit (Praise Ogbebor, 66m), Jack Glenister, Hassan Nalbant, Charlie Morris, Camilo Restrepo (Tyrese Sibanda, 84m). Unused sub: George Cox