Hassan Nalbant bagged a hat-trick as Boro cruised past Southend Manor, and in doing so notched up the club’s biggest win since 2006, when Beaumont Athletic were beaten by a similar score in another Essex Senior League fixture.

Kick off was delayed when one of the officials was late following the closure of a flyover on the A13, and in contrast to the high octane start of the previous home game against FC Clacton, the early stages were somewhat muted. Hassan Nalbant ought to have done better when he burst through the visitors’ defence after ten minutes however, but a heavy touch saw the ball run through to Manor keeper Bradley Davison. It was 1-0 after 12 minutes though, when Jake Anderson comfortably fielded a Southend free-kick and launched a pass downfield that Finlay Dorrell controlled, holding off a challenging defender and volleying home from just inside the penalty area.

Southend Manor levelled the scores after 14 minutes when Soumen Nandi - who was probably the pick of their side - cut in from the right and fired home from just inside the Boro penalty area, giving Anderson no chance. A minute later, and Boro were back in front. The ball was swept wide to Dorrell on the left, and although Nalbant missed the cross that Dorrell put over, Charlie Morris was lurking unmarked behind him, and he volleyed Romford’s 100th goal of the season past Davison.

Dorrell picked up a rather harsh booking for delaying the restart of play when Southend had a throw, being hit on the leg by a ball kicked over from the Romford bench, but after 26 minutes Dorrell was once again involved in a good move, picking up a diagonal pass to the left flank and crossing low for Nalbant whose shot flew over the bar. It was only a temporary reprieve for the visitors, as Boro scored a third on the half hour. Another cross by Dorrell this time found Camilo Restrepo, whose shot was turned round the post by Davison, but when Michael Turner headed the corner across goal, Restrepo was on hand to score.

Toby Barlow hobbled out of the action to be replaced by Danny Hurford after 37 minutes, and in the last minute of the half Boro made it 4-1 with a simple goal from Michael Turner, who met Kris Newby’s corner with a powerful header into the far corner.

Only four minutes of the second half had elapsed when Hassan Nalbant scored the first of his three goals on the night, running on to Dorrell’s pass and slipping the ball past the advancing keeper. Manor’s Eliandro Soque was unluckily booked for what appeared to be minimal contact on Finlay Dorrell (George Cox was later also booked for a foul that was similarly barely worthy of the name by referee Adeolu Adeyemi, who made hard work of an easy game, although the booking that Henry Hart picked up for a foul by the corner flag was justified), and then Raheim Bangash forced a rare save from Anderson, who had to tip the Manor defender’s shot over the bar after 65 minutes.

There was a lull between Nalbant’s 49th minute goal and Boro’s sixth of the night, which came after 81 minutes. Again it was Nalbant who scored, controlling a long forward pass from Scott Doe and chipping it over the keeper. After 87 minutes it was 7-1 as Praise Ogbebor retrieved Danny Hurford’s overhit cross and laid the ball off to Doe, whose cross was headed home by George Cox.

Cox curled a shot narrowly wide from the left in the first minute of added time, but with 92 minutes on the clock, his cross from the right was controlled by Nalbant, who stabbed the ball home from close range to complete the scoring.

After Romford’s horror show 2021-22 season, Boro fans were quick to give credit to Southend Manor, who did not stop running or trying all evening despite being overwhelmed.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Henry Hart, Toby Barlow (Danny Hurford, 37m), Kris Newby (George Cox, 65m), Michael Turner, Bleron Ademi, Camilo Restrepo (Praise Ogbebor, 52m), Jack Glenister, Hassan Nalbant, Charlie Morris (Scott Doe, 65m), Finlay Dorrell. Unused sub: Jacob Wiggins.