Harwich & Parkeston (0) 1, Romford (0) 0 – Saturday 9th August 2025 – Essex Senior League

Although this was an improvement on Wednesday night's performance against Hullbridge, Boro's inability to convert possession - of which they had plenty- into clear cut chances, and chances into goals cost them dear as the hosts took the points with a goal from former AFC Sudbury striker Luke Mayhew.

An early cross from Owen Bellamy was just too high for Christian Adu Gyamfi while shortly afterwards Harwich's Dan Keeble headed over the Boro crossbar.

After seventeen minutes Brad Davison had to come off his line to save and Boro were relieved to win a free-kick after struggling to clear.

Owen Bellamy's cross was headed against the bar by Teddy Desmond with Harwich keeper Brad Cook preoccupied by Christian Adu Gyamfi's presence after 23 minutes, but shortly after that Davison had to save from Reece Harte's shot.

Teddy Desmond went in referee Lewis Sibbons's book for an innocuous challenge on the touchline after 31 minutes, and the official sin binned Jake Gordon soon after for pacing out 10 yards from a free-kick after the referee had - not for the only time - come up short doing so. Olu Shobowale put the free-kick over the bar.

Harwich's Charlie Lindoe shot over after 41 minutes and Boro broke quickly from the restart but no one could capitalise on the cross by Bellamy, who then shot over as the half ended goalless.

Teddy Desmond’s header from Bellamy's cross was tipped over by Cook in the first minute of the second half and after 53 minutes Cook turned away a shot by Ezra Agyiri after the Boro sub met Adu Gyamfi's lay off.

After a formless passage in which neither side were able to retain possession for significant periods, Harwich scored what proved to be the winner when Mayhew's shot from the corner of the box went past Davison and into the opposite corner of the net.

Ezra Agyiri was yellow carded for a foul in the Harwich penalty area, although why no card was shown to the Harwich player who scythes down Davison remains a mystery.

Both sides had shots that were off target before the end, but Harwich went close to a second when Davison had to dive to his left to claw away a goalbound effort.

Defeat here sees Boro - who now don't have another league game till the end of the month- slip to fourteenth in the table and looking for an improvement against Ilford in the FA Vase in a fortnight.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Harry Elsey, Olu Shobowale, Nick Reynolds, Harry Markatis (Ellis Devereux 65'), Teddy Desmond (Ezra Agyiri 54'), Owen Bellamy, Joe Damrell, Jake Gordon (Darnell Bromfield 75'), Harrison Georgiou (Harry Honesty 66'), Christian Adu Gyamfi. Unused sub: Ola Sosanya