The last thing Boro needed was to concede an early goal, but after only three minutes the visitors were in front when Noah Adejokun swung his right boot at a high ball at a partial clearance and directed the ball into the far corner, giving Brad Davison no chance.

Christian Adu Gyamfi was denied three times as Boro sought an immediate response. After nine minutes, Ryan Sammons’ ball into the right channel found Adu Gyamfi, whose shot was parried by Bengal keeper Harold Adu Poku and after fifteen minutes the keeper excelled with a save from close range after Adu Gyamfi had met Fabio Co’s cross from the right. Adu Poko then came off his line to deny Adu Gyamfi a third time after the Boro forward had run onto T'aizo Marcel-Dilaver’s pass.

Between those Romford chances Sporting Bengal went close when Kieran James headed wide from a corner, but the visitors doubled their lead after 26 minutes when Teddy Desmond’s square ball was intercepted on the half-way line and despite valiant Boro efforts to clear, the ball ran to Adejokun, who tapped home.

Bengal might have had a third on the half hour when Adejokun found space on the left, but Davison was equal to his low shot.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half; James shot across the face of goal after latching onto a flicked header after 50 minutes, while Boro were again denied by Adu Pako when he blocked Adu Gyamfi’s shot from Ezra Agyiri’s cross.

Marcel-Dilaver shot wide after an hour following a Romford free-kick that had been partially cleared but played back into Bengal territory by Joe Damrell before Boro got one back after 67 minutes. Agyiri’s free-kick was fumbled behind by Adu Pako for a corner and when the flag kick was headed across goal, Harry Elsey was fouled as he attempted to play the ball back across goal. Ezra Agyiri stepped up to fire home the spot kick.

Another Boro corner led to the game’s final goal – unfortunately it went to the visitors. Agyiri’s corner from the left was cleared and as Sammons challenged Adejokun on the half-way line, the Boro defender appeared to be fouled. Referee Callum Dorling waved play on and Adejokun had an unopposed run at goal, rounding Davison to roll the ball home to complete his hat-trick.

Boro now have two potentially tricky away games at Buckhurst Hill and Benfleet and must hope to maintain a record on the road that has seen wins at West Essex and Woodford Town and is currently much better than the team’s home form.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Ryan Sammons, Teddy Desmond, Joe Damrell (Charlie Hare 82'), Nick Reynolds, Harry Elsey (Lewis Browne 82'), Fabio Co (Ola Sosanya 72'), Ramzi Mahmoudi (Kevin Musimami 46'), Christian Adu Gyamfi, T'aizo Marcel-Dilaver, Ellis Devereux (Ezra Agyiri 45')

Report by Mike Woods