Little Oakley (0) 0, Romford (0) 1 – Monday 18th November 2024 – Essex Senior League

Romford travelled to Little Oakley looking to end a run of three successive defeats in League and Cup matches and avenge two defeats this season at the hands of The Acorns. They left having achieved their objectives.

On a night of incessant rain, the game was never going to be a classic, but the Boro fans who had braved both the weather and the long trip through rush hour traffic on the A12 were rewarded with a dogged and determined Romford performance.

Boro survived an early scare when a 4th minute corner for the home side was turned onto the underside of the crossbar before being scrambled away, the assistant referee dismissing Oakley's claims that the ball had crossed the line.

Romford were rarely able to cross the half way line during the early exchanges but the Boro back three of Andy Morris, Eli Benoit and debutant Harry Elsey, along with 'keeper Qamil Dervishai, were able to comfortably soak up the pressure that came mainly from a succession of long throw-ins by Oakley's George Davis and corner kicks. Chances came when a Hafeez Elegushi shot cleared the bar on 9 minutes and Jaiden Babaloloa's effort from a pass from Toheeb Elegushi went similarly high of the target five minutes later.

Oakley's appeals for a penalty in the 29th minute were denied by referee Brian Taylor but led to the talismanic Darren Mills being sin-binned for his protests. Boro took advantage of the extra man to end the half in the ascendancy, Toheeb Elegushi shooting wide from an offside position on 39 minutes. Oakley's Luke Hipkin's shot from close range on 40 minutes completely missed the target when it might have been easier to test Dervishaj.

Romford's joint top scorer Kennedy Feyi replaced David Oweredu on 57 minutes and soon made an impact, laying the ball back for Arnold Mengi's cross from the right to be met by Joe Paxman, playing in an unfamiliar left wing-back role. Paxman met the cross perfectly, crashing the ball past Oakley 'keeper Billy Lawlor for his first goal in Romford colours, capping an outstanding personal performance.

The remainder of the game was evenly contested and noteable for a caution for skipper Toheeb Elegushi, who had been replaced by Lucas Polyblank on 68 minutes. However, his comments from the bench directed at the linesman were enough to earn him a yellow card twelve minutes later. With five minutes remaining, Toheeb's brother, Hafeez, was the victim of a mis-timed tackle that sent him cartwheeling spectacularly through the air and earned Oakley's Adrian Cant a booking.

The final whistle brought the curtain down on a fine all-round team performance from Romford and a well earned three points to keep Boro in fifth place in the League table.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Sam Elwood, Joe Paxman, Eli Benoit, Andy Morris, Harry Elsey, Toheeb Elegushi (Lucas Polyblank 68'), Jaiden Babalola, David Owiredu (Kennedy Feyi 57'), Arnold Mengi, Hafeez Elegushi Unused subs: Derek Feyi, Lewis Gardener, Kelvin Boampong

Report and picture by Bob Knightley