Frenford (0) 2, Romford (0) 0 – Saturday 27th December 2025 – Essex Senior League

After recording an excellent draw at Halstead Town recently, Romford promptly fell to a 2-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Athletic Newham in their next game, and the pattern was repeated as Boro followed last weekend’s impressive draw at Great Wakering Rovers with another 2-0 defeat, this time at the hands of bottom of the table Frenford.

Frenford proved to be obdurate opponents with many Boro attacks foundered against the hosts’ central defensive partnership of Andrew Williams and Freddie Tandon, the latter having been with Boro at the start of the FA Vase winning season and who was manager of Sporting Bengal United until recently. In midfield, Romford enjoyed little time on the ball and Flynn Hamilton was unable to impose himself on the game as he has done so impressively in recent weeks.

The home side had more of the play in the opening stages and an early free-kick by Corey Davidson was saved by Brad Davison before a quick throw from the left gave Sam Ince the chance of a shot that went well over. For Romford, Henry Hart made a good run in the inside right channel but fired over the bar before a low cross by Greig Stewart was met at full stretch by Lewis Browne who could only divert the ball over the Frenford crossbar.

Flynn Hamilton’s scissors kick went wide and Gabriel Ipanga had a fierce drive parried by Frenford keeper Dominic Alexandru, but Frenford’s Ince then delivered a dangerous low cross that Freddy Cooper had to divert over his own crossbar for one of a series of corners forced by the home side.

Frenford missed a good chance as the half drew to a close with a shot that was too high, although the opportunity stemmed from Brad Davison being unable to collect a high ball when clearly fouled, although referee Zeki Karayaka saw nothing wrong with the challenge on the Boro keeper.

The second half ebbed and flowed with Boro continuing to struggle to make inroads against the Frenford defence despite having plenty of possession while the home side looked dangerous on the break. Hart shot wide from Hamilton’s excellent cross-field pass and Ryan Sammons, having cut in from the left, was foiled by Alexandru, who turned the shot round the post. At the other end Davison saved well from Ince, but after Frenford had skied another chance over the bar, they took the lead in the 70th minute when Ince’s low cross from the left was converted by Derix Ndjoli.

After Ince had put a free-kick wide of the Boro goal, Frenford wrapped the game up with a second goal after 89 minutes when Joseph Akinsanin curled a low shot past Davison from the edge of a crowded penalty area.

In stoppage time Freddy Cooper put the ball over after a corner dropped to his feet, but it would have been a mere consolation even had he scored.

Defeat leaves Romford perilously close to the drop zone and now without a win in eight games ahead of next Saturday’s home game against West Essex, a match that assumes even greater importance following West Essex’s win over Athletic Newham, putting them only four points behind Boro.

Romford: Bradley Davison, George Cornwell, Ryan Sammons, Harry Elsey, Freddy Cooper, Greig Stewart, Henry Hart, Louis Mathias (Joe Damrell 60'), Lewis Browne (Christian Adu Gyamfi 60'), Flynn Hamilton, Gabriel Ipanga (Danny Hanson 77') Unused subs: Kunle Adeyemi, Nick Reynolds

Report by Mike Woods