Barking (0) 1, Romford (2) 3 – Saturday 1st November 2025 – Essex Senior League

One of football’s great joys is its unpredictability, but few at Mayesbrook Park would have forecast this result before kick-off. Barking had a perfect home record of six wins from six, with just three goals conceded; ninety minutes later both of those records were gone.

After regularly conceding goals in the opening minutes this season, it was Boro’s turn to take an early lead. With eleven minutes played, Nick Reynolds hoisted a long throw into the Barking penalty area which the home defence failed to deal with and Christian Adu Gyamfi took charge, bringing the ball down and scoring his fifth league goal of the season from just outside the six-yard box.

As was to be expected, Romford then came under a period of pressure from the home side, who won a series of corners and throw ins that were lofted into the Boro 18 yard box, but Brad Davison and the defenders in front of him proved equal to everything that Barking threw at them.

Having weathered that storm, Boro doubled their lead after twenty three minutes. Flynn Hamilton - who was outstanding and ably supported by Joe Damrell in midfield – harried a Barking defender into losing possession on the edge of the penalty area and then sent his shot between home keeper Finn Rushton and his left hand post.

Some say that a 2-0 lead is the most precarious in football, and Boro have lost that sort of lead against Barking before, so there was no room for complacency. There was plenty of defending to do for Romford in the remainder of the first period with one effort having to be cleared off the line from a 26th minute corner, but despite plenty of attacking endeavour from both sides, clear cut chances were few.

As might have been expected, Barking pressed hard to get back into the game in the second half with Romford pushed back, although Boro had the first sight of goal after the break when Praise Ogbebor set up Hamilton for a shot that was off target. Barking then went close when a cross by Nathaniel Asiedu-Binney was poked wide of the Boro goal and they reduced the arrears after 55 minutes when Chaka Barnett’s cross was headed down and Tyreece Robertson flicked the ball past Davison.

Almost immediately, Boro had an opportunity to restore their two goal advantage when Hamilton put Ezra Agyiri through but he fired over the bar when placement would have been preferable to power.

While not quite a backs to the wall performance, Boro did have to defend well thereafter and Barking twice went close in the middle of the half with another cross by Barnett prodded just wide and then Davison’s low save saw the ball run loose in a dangerous area before Harry Elsey cleared.

There was a major let off for Boro after 75 minutes when Alfie Attrill’s shot hit Davison’s left hand post; had that gone in the outcome might have been different, but Boro deserved the stroke of luck that came their way.

Boro lost both full backs to injury when Ryan Sammons and Teddy Desmond had to be replaced, but Sammons’ replacement Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson fitted in well on the right with Praise Ogbebor dropping back to take Desmond’s place on the left, and Romford then had a decent chance to net a third when Harry Elsey met Flynn Hamilton’s 81st minute corner with a header that Barking had to clear off the goal line.

For all their possession, Barking were unable to breach the Boro backline and even when they won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the 90th minute, Davison was equal to it, comfortably saving the low shot.

With nine minutes of added time played and Boro fans praying for the final whistle, Kevin Musimami put the result beyond doubt as he chased down a back pass and blocked Rushton’s attempted clearance before tapping home for his second goal in Romford colours.

Having acquired a taste for victory at Mayesbrook Park – this was Boro’s first league win at the venue since Saffron Walden Town were beaten last February – it is frustrating that after such a great showing against Barking, it will be three weeks until there’s a chance to claim a first home league win of the season when White Ensign are the visitors.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Ryan Sammons (Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson 71'), Teddy Desmond (Lewis Browne 79'), Joe Damrell, Nick Reynolds, Harry Elsey, Ezra Agyiri, Blaise Uwandji (Makhi Johnson 71'), Christian Adu Gyamfi (Kevin Musimami 88'), Flynn Hamilton, Praise Ogbebor. Unused sub: Mayowa Ogunyemi

Report by Mike Woods