Romford (0) 1, Little Oakley (2) 2 – Essex Senior League – Tuesday 10th September 2024

Little Oakley striker Darren Mills has been around the block a few times, playing at Step 4 with clubs like Felixstowe & Walton United and Bury Town and at Step 3 with Leiston, and on a wet and miserable evening in Barking he showed all his experience as his two first half goals consigned Boro to their first league defeat of the season.

In all fairness, Little Oakley were worth their win as Romford struggled to contain them in the first forty-five and although in the second half there was more encouragement for the Boro faithful, in the end an equaliser that would have preserved the unbeaten record would not come.

The first half an hour belonged to the visitors. Harry Girling comfortably gathered a header from a free-kick after nine minutes and after sixteen, Little Oakley’s Rory Harman fired over the bar as the rain pelted down. Girling did well to save a low free-kick – awarded for a foul by Andy Morris for which the Boro defender was booked – in the 20th minute but he would have been helpless had the follow up shot been on target rather than being scooped over the bar.

Girling had no chance after 27 minutes when Darren Mills headed home from a left wing cross but the striker benefited mightily from a lack of marking and two minutes later Mills was left similarly unattended as he slid the ball home from another free-kick – more central this time – that was floated into the Boro penalty area.

Romford’s first half goal attempts were unconvincing. Chris Millar was fouled as he made a forward run but was given the advantage when he retained possession, however his attempt at a chip was easily held by Oakley keeper Michael Bett after 40 minutes, and a minute before the break Millar saw his shot charged down by a Little Oakley defender with Boro appealing in vain for a penalty for handball.

Millar failed to appear for the second half after picking up a knock and his replacement, Arnold Mengi was behind much of Boro’s improved second half performance, but Boro continued to struggle in midfield where Little Oakley went close again after 57 minutes when possession was conceded but Mohammed Amir shot over the bar.

Brendan Ocran was denied by Bett who came off his line to block the Boro midfielder’s effort after 59 minutes but Boro had a lifeline after 65 minutes when Andy Morris met Aundre Spencer’s free-kick with a fine header into the bottom corner of the net (pictured by Bob Knightley).

Boro had a second claim for a penalty for handball waved away by referee Toby Carlisle and Ocran had another sight of goal but his outside of the boot effort from Praise Ogbebor went narrowly wide of the left hand post.

A poor challenge on Arnold Mengi by Nathan Rowe earned the Little Oakley defender a yellow card after 71 minutes with Boro’s Nathan Fuma sin-binned for his outspoken reaction to the challenge. Rowe was then sent off for a foul on Praise Ogbebor on the half-way line after 75 minutes as Romford began to dominate proceedings without being able to fashion too many chances. Boro’s best opportunity fell to Mengi whose chance was created by Ogbebor and Kennedy Feyi, but his shot was deflected wide.

Little Oakley went close when Mills flicked the ball on for Bobby Rea whose shot was well blocked by Girling as the end of normal time approached. Deep in stoppage time, after Little Oakley keeper Bett had been booked for time wasting, Leandro Alva shot wide from outside the box but even with the addition of eight additional minutes Boro could not find a second goal and for the first time this season, ended a game without a point.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood (Kalum Bama 57m), Aundre Spencer, Jake Giddings (Nathan Fuma 57m), Andy Morris, Eli Benoit, Chris Millar (Arnold Mengi 46m), Kennedy Feyi, Brendan Ocran (Leandro Alva 84m), Toheeb Elegushi, Praise Ogbebor. Unused sub: Ross Elsom