Romford (0) 1, Hullbridge Sports (2) 2 – Wednesday 6th August 2025 – Essex Senior League

The scoreline suggests that this was a close game – it wasn’t. Between the first minute, when Christian Adu Gyamfi was denied by an excellent save from Ciaran Gordon-Stearn in the Hullbridge goal and the fifth minute of stoppage time when Teddy Desmond headed a consolation goal, Romford created little or nothing worthy of note.

Hullbridge were solid at the back, tenacious in midfield and while like Romford, they created few chances, took the most of the two that came their way in the opening forty minutes. It might have been so different had Boro scored in the very first minute, however. Ezra Agyiri’s perfect low cross from the right was well met by Christian Adu Gyamfi, but Ciaran Gordon-Stearn spread himself to block.

Eleven minutes in and Hullbridge went ahead. A free-kick delivered from the left was headed across goal and Tobias Braney – who had scored a hat-trick in his side’s FA Cup win over Basildon United a few days previously – was on hand to ram the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Braney then drove another free-kick goalwards that Brad Davison had to turn round the post, and then the same player hit a post with a low shot, although a Romford player appeared to have been fouled in the build up. This came after a rare Boro incursion into the visitors’ penalty areas had seen Adu Gyamfi just unable to capitalise when the Hullbridge keeper fumbled.

Hullbridge doubled their lead five minutes before the break. Teddy Desmond and Brad Davison seemed to get their wires crossed with neither dealing decisively with a hopeful forward ball; Braney nipped in and passed the ball into the net.

In the first half’s only other noteworthy incident, Guy Norton was booked for a foul, which again resulted in one of too many free-kicks that Boro conceded, although it has to be said that referee Tommy Fleming did occasionally seem over zealous with the whistle, and particularly strict on what many other referees would consider instances of ball to hand rather than deliberate handball offences.

The second half opened with Boro pressure as Owen Bellamy’s teasing cross was just too far ahead of Adu Gyamfi for the striker to reach, and then Ezra Agyiri shot wide after being gifted possession in midfield.

After 55 minutes, Boro threw all five substitutes into the fray, although Sonny Shilling lasted only fifteen minutes before having to hobble off after being injured following a 50-50 challenge in midfield. Despite having only ten men, Boro did push Hullbridge back for most of the remainder of the half, although the visitors looked dangerous on the break and after winning a corner they went close when former Boro man Jacob Wiggins shot narrowly over the bar.

A good Romford move ended with a wildly off target shot after 79 minutes and then four minutes later Adu Gyamfi flicked the ball on for Ellis Devereux, who laid the ball off but Jake Gordon - who had randomly been booked for a foul minutes earlier – missed his kick.

Five minutes of stoppage time had been played when Boro got one back. Gordon’s lofted cross had Gordon-Stearn scrambling, and when the ball came back off the bar Teddy Desmond was on hand to head home a mere consolation.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Teddy Desmond, Guy Norton, Darnell Bromfield (Jake Gordon 55'), Harry Elsey, Ola Sosanya (Joe Damrell 55'), Ezra Agyiri (Ellis Devereux 55'), Harry Markatis (Sonny Shilling 55'), Christian Adu Gyamfi, Harrison Georgiou (Nick Reynolds 55'), Owen Bellamy