West Essex (0) 1, Romford (2) 3 – Essex Senior League – Saturday 28th September 2024

Some games are so extraordinary, so remarkable, and despite being so downright indescribable, acquire mythic, legendary status and become talked about for many years after the final whistle: This was one of them.

The first half was positively calm and pedestrian. Boro led 2-0 at the break and could easily have been four goals to the good. The only blot on the copybook was a yellow card for defender Derek Feyi; this would become significant after the break. In contrast, the second half was chaotic and for that much of the blame must rest on the shoulders of referee Robert Davies who managed to make a very easy game very difficult for himself.

Romford dominated the first half, although the first opportunity of note was a shot by West Essex’s Darnell Asare-Williams that provided Harry Girling with an easy gather. Romford then broke quickly and Lucas Polyblank met Reece Hewitt’s cross with a header that was well off target.

Eight minutes was all it took for Boro to go ahead. Praise Ogbebor -who was outstanding on the day – put over a cross from the left that found Lucas Polyblank whose effort was deflected behind for a corner on the left. Brendan Ocran’s delivery from the flag kick was headed back across goal for Arnold Mengi to head home from close range.

Kennedy Feyi was denied by West Essex keeper Lewis Edwards and good Boro pressure ended with a shot by Polyblank that was kept out by Edwards. But Boro were not to be denied a second that arrived after 15 minutes when Toheeb Elegushi’s low cross from the right was swept emphatically into the net by Brendan Ocran.

Harry Girling was called into action to save a shot from a deflected free-kick after 20 minutes, but Boro were creating the better chances and good work by Kennedy Feyi set up Ocran for a shot that was beaten away by Edwards. After 40 minutes Reece Hewitt put Ogbebor into space and although he lifted the ball over Edwards, West Essex defender Joel Lamb worked miracles to clear off the line. Kennedy Feyi was then denied by a good block and the follow up from Elegushi was saved by Edwards.

Romford were reduced to ten men five minutes into the second half. Booked for first half altercation after he appeared to have been fouled, Derek Feyi was yellow carded a second time for what appeared to be a fairly innocuous challenge just inside his own half. Kennedy Feyi was also booked in the aftermath for protesting the decision.

Just before the hour mark West Essex almost reduced the arrears when one of several dubiously awarded free-kicks was delivered into the Boro area but headed wide, but the home side were indebted to captain Joel Lamb for a second goal-line clearance when he headed away a goal bound header from Boro’s Jaiden Babalola.

West Essex were handed a lifeline after 66 minutes when referee Davies awarded the a penalty after an aerial collision that looked like a simple coming together. Yemi Adelani converted the spot kick and shoved Boro keeper Harry Girling as he went to retrieve the ball. Girling unwisely retaliated and was shown a straight red; Adelani escaped without censure despite instigating events. Andy Morris took over between the posts for Boro.

Morris then performed heroics, albeit in somewhat unorthodox fashion at times, to keep West Essex at bay. After 74 minutes he beat out a free-kick from Harry Norman and after 86 minutes he blocked a shot and was relieved to see the follow up shot go wide.

Three minutes from the end of normal time, West Essex’s Oumar Ndao cut in from the left but shot well over, but Boro were looking the side more likely to score again despite the numerical disadvantage. Babalola was just off target with one shot, but a third goal came from Arnold Mengi, his second of the game, when he was found by Jake Gordon and slipped the ball under the advancing goalkeeper in the first of ten minutes added at the end of the half.

A rare chance for West Essex saw Ndao head wide with 50 second half minutes played, but Boro not only held out for the win, but thoroughly deserved it. Victory comes at a price with suspensions looming for Derek Feyi and Harry Girling, but this was still a win to savour.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood, Reece Hewitt, Lucas Polyblank (Jaiden Babalola 52m), Kojo Feyi, Eli Benoit, Arnold Mengi, Kennedy Feyi (Jake Giddings) Brendan Ocran (Andy Morris 53m), Toheeb Elegushi (Jake Gordon 65m), Praise Ogbebor