Romford (1) 3, Hackney Wick (1) 4 – Wednesday 8th October 2025 – Essex Senior League

When Hackney scored their fourth after 57 minutes, Romford were staring another hefty defeat in the face but a stirring comeback yielded two goals, however, despite exerting pressure on the visitors for the remainder of the half, Boro were unable to find an equaliser and fell to another home defeat.

Hackney were on top in the early stages and in the very first minute Brad Davison had to turn a header from Issa Sidibe over the bar, but from the subsequent corner, Davison – who appeared to be impeded – could only punch the ball into his own net to put the visitors ahead.

Romford battled back to level after ten minutes when Charlie Hare reacted first after a free-kick ricocheted around the Hackney six yard box and the Boro central defender converted the loose ball. Having weathered Hackney’s early pressure and levelled, Boro began to assert themselves and Ezra Agyiri forced a save from Mohammed Nasim after 14 minutes and two minutes later, Ramzi Mahmoudi took a pot shot that was just off target.

Leo Lopate ought to have done better for Hackney when he shot into the side netting after breaking clear with Boro having lost possession in midfield, and as the sides traded chances, Agyiri did well on the right to find Christian Adu Gyamfi, whose shot was deflected over the bar. The visitors then went close as a dangerous cross from the left was deflected wide, and after Teddy Desmond had headed across the Hackney goal, Adam Cheniti hit a firm shot that was straight at Davison as the half wound to a conclusion.

Three goals for Hackney within the opening twelve minutes of the second half put the game beyond Boro, despite the rousing comeback. In the 48th minute, after Agyiri had a shot saved, Hackney broke quickly and the impressive Sidibe found himself in space and he put his team back in front.

Agyiri – who Hackney had clearly identified as Boro’s key attacking threat and had two or even three defenders on him whenever he got possession – set up Adu Gyamfi for a shot that was off target, but after 54 minutes Sidibe was left unattended to head home a cross from the left to increase Hackney’s lead. It got worse after 57 minutes when a quick Hackney break ended with Mohammed Sebaihi finishing confidently.

To Romford’s credit, heads did not drop and for the remainder of the half Boro were constantly threatening the Hackney goal. A second Boro goal came on the hour when Christian Adu Gyamfi’s shot from the left side of the penalty area took a deflection off a defender that took it beyond Nasim’s reach and in at the par post. Ramzi Mahmoudi, who seconds earlier had rounded the keeper but had put a difficult chance wide, found space to hit a low shot past Nasim. With 24 minutes still to play, a point at least was not out of the question.

Nasim spilled a high ball but Adu Gyamfi could not get sufficient power on his header and the ball was cleared, and then Nasim saved well from Joe Damrell’s shot. It wasn’t all Boro as Hackney looked ever dangerous on the break and Sidibe went close to a personal third when he shot over after getting clear on the right.

Romford piled on the pressure with Ezra Agyiri, Fabio Co, and Kevin Musimami a constant threat to the Hackney defence, but the clearest chance that Boro could muster in the search for an equaliser was a shot in the 89th minute from Joe Damrell that was kicked away before it could find the target.

There could be no faulting Boro’s effort that so nearly rescued a point, but a nightmare start to the second half ultimately gave them too much to do.

Romford: Bradley Davison, George Cornwell, Teddy Desmond, Joe Damrell, Nick Reynolds, Charlie Hare, Ezra Agyiri, Harry Elsey (Fabio Co 44'), Christian Adu Gyamfi, Flynn Hamilton (Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson 69'), Ramzi Mahmoudi (Kevin Musimami 74')