Benfleet (2) 5, Romford (0) 0 – Saturday 4th October 2025 – Essex Senior League

Last season at Benfleet, Romford made a stirring comeback to recover a three goal deficit and earn a draw. There was no repeat yesterday as after they had gone 3-0 ahead, Benfleet added two more, as - on a well grassed but uneven pitch, and with a strong wind blowing - the home side mastered the conditions better with pragmatic, no frills football that Boro could not match.

Ezra Agyiri’s cross landed on the top of the Benfleet net in Romford’s first attack of note after nine minutes, but Benfleet wasted little time in going ahead, scoring from a corner that was headed across goal for Max Jobson to convert after 16 minutes.

Nick Reynolds had to be alert to stop Jobson breaking on the right a minute after the goal and the Boro captain then hoisted a long throw into the Benfleet penalty area that has headed partially clear for Ola Sosanya to hit a decent volley that rose just over the Benfleet bar.

It was a feature of the game that Boro conceded a number of baffling free-kicks. Christian Adu Gyamfi, Ola Sosanya, and Ryan Sammons all appeared to be the victims in various first half challenges but ended up being penalised or simply ignored, and the trend continued in the second period when Adu Gyamfi appeared to be fouled in the box but conceded a free-kick instead.

There was a stroke of good fortune for the home side with their second goal when a cross from the left rebounded off Sammons and fell invitingly for Jobson to score from fifteen yards after 36 minutes. Sammons was then wrestled to the ground by a Benfleet forward and was astonished to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position, which fortunately came to nothing and the half ended with Benfleet’s Callum Legg shooting wide of Davison’s goal.

George Cornwell and Kevin Musimami replaced Ryan Sammon and Ola Sosanya at the break and Cornwell’s first contribution was a low cross from the right that Benfleet keeper Florent Gislette snaffled up in the very first minute, but sixty seconds later Benfleet scored again when a Jobson rode a challenge, broke free and pulled the ball back for Toby Dickinson to convert.

It got worse as Benfleet netted a fourth after 54 minutes. Boro failed to deal decisively with a somewhat hopeful ball played into the box and Jobson became the second player in eight days to complete a hat-trick against Boro as he tapped the ball home.

Boro had a couple of chances in quick succession as with Agyiri’s effort was blocked by Gislette with Musimami’s follow up blocked by a defender. Musimami then stole a back pass, and after he had been denied by Gislette, the ball ran to Adu Gyamfi who appeared to be fouled but was instead penalised.

Jobson went close to what would have been his fourth with a shot that went across goal and Harry Elsey had to clear off the line from Lucas Polyblank after 73 minutes, but this only briefly delayed the inevitable as Dickinson rounded off the scoring for the hosts a minute later.

There still remained time for a fracas in front of the benches when Adu Gyamfi was fouled, but the ensuing melee in which Kris Newby was booked along with Benfleet’s Russell, ended predictably, if inexplicably, with a free-kick to Benfleet.

An afternoon to forget for Boro and particularly disappointing after the encouraging win at Buckhurst Hill in the team’s previous outing.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Ryan Sammons (Kevin Musimami 45'), Harry Elsey, Joe Damrell, Nick Reynolds, Charlie Hare, Ezra Agyiri, Ola Sosanya (George Cornwell 45') Christian Adu Gyamfi, Lewis Browne, Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson (Kris Newby 67')

Report by Mike Woods