Romford (2) 5, Sawbridgeworth Town (0) 1 – Essex Senior League – Saturday 7th September 2024

Brendan Ocran’s delightfully chipped goal in the third minute of added time put the icing on the cake as Boro went nap against Sawbridgeworth.

Just as in Tuesday’s game at Hullbridge, Boro were three goals to the good just after the hour mark, but this time there was no danger of the advantage being relinquished as former Braintree Town and Leiston man added two further goals with Keiran David’s goal for the visitors a mere consolation.

Romford were largely on top in a somewhat low key first half and might have gone ahead as early as the ninth minute when Arnold Mengi capitalised on a poor clearance from Sawbridgeworth keeper Samuel Owusu, but shot wide. A minute later and Mengi was involved again, creating a shooting chance for Praise Ogbebor who cut in from the left but saw his effort strike a post and go wide.

Fifteen minutes in and Romford went ahead. Kennedy Feyi played a low ball in from the right and although Sawbo keeper Owusu got to the ball, he could only divert it into the path of Ogbebor who ran the ball over the line for his third goal of the season.

Chris Millar twice went close, shooting just wide after 22 minutes and then seeing Owusu push his shot away for a corner five minutes later. On the half hour mark Mengi ran at the Sawbridgeworth defence, which parted to allow him a shot at goal that the overworked Owusu pushed round the post for a corner.

Kennedy Feyi bagged his second goal for the club after 41 minutes as Ogbebor won the ball in the Sawbridgeworth half, nicking the ball away from an opponent and setting up Feyi for a run at goal which ended with him rounding Owusu and rolling the ball into the net (pictured by Alan Blackholly).

Boro carried on where they had left off after the interval and in just the second minute of the second period Millar’s corner was headed back across goal by Andy Morris with no Boro player able to get a decisive touch. Millar might have made it three after 56 minutes when Owusu blocked Kennedy Feyi’s effort but the Boro midfielder skied the loose ball over the bar.

The impressive Arnold Mengi scored for the second consecutive game after 61 minutes, picking up the ball in midfield and driving forward before rounding Owusu to score.

Sawbridgeworth’s first attack of note after 63 minutes required Derek Feyi to make an important challenge in his own penalty area before the loose ball was fired harmlessly over Harry Girling’s crossbar. A minute later and a good run in the inside left position by Sawbo’s Charles Opoku ended with a low cross that required another good challenge by Feyi to prevent Mason Clark getting his shot away.

The visitors continued to press for a goal and a quick throw in Boro territory gave Keiran David a shooting opportunity but his shot rose over the bar after 75 minutes and then David again had an effort at goal that Girling saved comfortably.

Boro’s debut making defender Eli Benoit picked up the game’s only yellow card after 81 minutes when he pulled back an opponent, but after 85 minutes Romford had their fourth when Reece McGovern intercepted the ball in his own half and had a choice of passes as Boro streamed forward. He chose to find fellow substitute Brendan Ocran, who ran through to score.

Sawbridgeworth went close with a header by Elijah Mambombe that Girling had to tip over the bar after 85 minutes but they were rewarded with a goal in the first minute of added time when Keiran David’s low shot found the far corner of the net.

Ocran restored the four goal advantage deep into stoppage time when he was well found on the right and lifted a superb chip over Owusu’s head and in at the far post to seal Boro’s biggest win of the season so far and restore the team to third place in the table.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood (Toheeb Elegushi 71m), Eli Benoit, Kojo Feyi, Kalum Bama (Reece McGovern 75m), Andy Morris, Praise Ogbebor, Arnold Mengi (Leandro Alva 68m),Jake Giddings (Lucas Polyblank 68m), Chris Millar (Brendan Ocran 59m), Kennedy Feyi