Saffron Walden Town (1) 1, Romford (0) 3 – Essex Senior League – Saturday 26th October 2024

When Chris Millar received the ball in the inside left channel five minutes into second half stoppage time with Romford 2-1 up, the expectation was that he would run the clock down by taking the ball to the corner flag: Not so. Cutting inside, Millar skipped past a defender’s challenge and found the unmarked Jake Gordon who fired a low drive past Jake Anderson for comeback kings Romford’s third goal that completed a stunning second half turnaround.

Romford had trailed at the break after a first half which had few chances but twice might have boiled over as Saffron Walden reacted indignantly to a couple of Boro challenges. Not that this was a dirty game and the incidents quickly calmed down with referee Benjamin Kelly keeping a lid on matters with sensible officiating.

Boro had the first two efforts on goal but Jake Anderson saved comfortably from shots by Amaree Robinson-Jones and Chris Millar, while Saffron Walden’s first effort of note was an off target shot from Lee Hursit, all inside the first six minutes.

After that initial bout of chances, Saffron Walden’s Charlie Morris forced a save from Harry Girling after 22 minutes after Darren Phillips had laid the ball off to him and then the ever dangerous Solomon Ofori cut in from the right but shot wide. Toheeb Elegushi was booked when he fouled Adalberto Pinto after 25 minutes, the first Boro player booked since Kennedy Feyi in the last minute at Stansted.

There was a blow for Boro when Isioma Richard limped out of the fray after 27 minutes having struggled on for a few moments having taken a knock as he blocked Ofori’s attempted cross. The home side went close after 31 minutes when Sam Deering’s ball into the box was nodded back across goal by Michael Turner and Lee Hursit headed over the bar. Five minutes from time however, Saffron Walden went in front. Ofori chipped in a cross from the right and Corey Davidson rose to head home.

Boro were more incisive after the interval, turning their possession into chances and their chances into goals, but Saffron Walden had the first sight of goal when Ofori’s pass found Davidson but his shot went wide.

After 54 minutes Toheeb Elegushi dispossessed Charlie Morris on the left but Boro could not capitalise on possession deep in Walden territory however, after 55 minutes Chris Millar levelled the scores. Sam Elwood lofted the ball in from the right and when Jake Anderson palmed it out, Millar was on hand to convert.

A flurry of bookings followed as Jaiden Babalola was booked for pulling back Ofori and Derek Feyi joined him for a foul that the referee had played advantage over; Saffron Walden’s Sam Deering was then cautioned for simulation as he dived in the Romford penalty area in search of a penalty.

Kennedy Feyi had one shot deflected wide for a corner after being set up by Ogbebor and then after being found by Joe Paxman after 70 minutes, the Boro forward had a powerful shot handled by a Saffron Walden defender right on the edge of the penalty area with Boro vainly claiming it was inside the box. The free-kick was blocked by the home team’s wall. Three minutes later however, Boro went ahead. Arnold Mengi’s pass found Kennedy Feyi free on the left and his ball gave Chris Millar all the time and space he needed to drive a low shot into the bottom corner.

Harry Girling made an important block to preserve the lead, but Boro were in the ascendancy and looked the more likely team to score again as Kennedy Feyi found space on the left but rolled his shot across goal.

Jake Gordon’s stoppage time goal was the icing on the cake as Romford ran out impressive winners on a day when the top five all recorded handsome victories.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood (Eli Benoit 57'), Richard Isioma (Praise Ogbebor 27’), Chris Millar, Scott Doe, Derek Feyi, Arnold Mengi, Jaiden Babalola (Lucas Polyblank 85'), Kennedy Feyi (Jake Gordon 86'), Toheeb Elegushi (Joe Paxman 56'), Amaree Robinson-Jones