Romford (0) 0, Great Wakering Rovers (0) 4 – Saturday 14th February 2026 – Essex Senior League

The bald facts - a four goal defeat and two players sent off - do not really reflect the events of this game. Great Wakering were undoubtedly the better side and deserved their win, but the outcome might have been different, or at least the margin of their win narrower, had Boro not lost Rhian Fowler who was sent off on the stroke of half-time. Fowler tangled with a Wakering forward and was adjudged to be denying a goal scoring opportunity, but the visitors' forward was running diagonally in the direction of the corner flag rather than directly towards goal, and with other home defenders on hand, a straight red seemed harsh.

Christian Adu Gyamfi's second yellow was even more egregious. The Boro forward had been roughly handled throughout with little protection from referee Ben Kelly, yet he was booked after 30 minutes for a routine challenge soon after being fouled himself, and then after 90 minutes, having ridden a foul, brought down an opponent as the two disputed possession.

The first half was a tight affair with Wakering having a slight edge and creating the better chances. After six minutes a move involving Harry Talbot and Bradleigh Rowland ended with Max Gnandi shooting wide, while the visitors also sent in dangerous crosses that were either headed wide or flashed harmlessly across goal. Rovers’ Ben Search twice shot wide, while Boro’s best chance fell to Flynn Hamilton, but after being put through by Teddy Desmond, his attempt to chip over Rovers keeper Gene Ghag ended with him putting the ball harmlessly wide.

A good spell of Romford possession allowed Ryan Sammons a shooting opportunity, but his effort was off target before a low cross from Wakering’s Rowland was deflected into the grateful arms of Boro keeper Brad Davison. Shortly after Christian Adu Gyamfi had been booked, he was joined in referee Kelly’s notebook by Rovers defender Jack Dickinson for a heavy challenge on Teddy Desmond.

The first half concluded with Fowler’s red card and the ensuing free-kick, which was blocked by the Boro wall, as was the follow up attempt.

Rovers’ numerical advantage enabled them to push Boro back for most of the second half and they took the lead after 63 minutes when Shaun Gittleson scored with a low shot from the right of the penalty area.

Romford were living off scraps at this stage but might have drawn level after 67 minutes when Greig Stewart won the ball in midfield and fed Christian Adu Gyamfi, but after making good progress into the Rovers penalty area and having sight of goal, the Boro forward’s shot was blocked. It was to be the last chance of note that Boro created.

The visitors netted their second after 74 minutes and effectively ended the game as a contest when Gnandi met a low cross from the right at the near post and diverted the ball past Davison. It was three after 86 minutes when Harrison Topliss headed home a cross from the right and the visitors bagged their fourth when Gnandi grabbed his second of the afternoon in the fifth minute of stoppage time, scoring from close range after Boro had failed to clear.

Christian Adu Gyamfi’s second yellow card put the tin hat on a bad afternoon for Romford and with Sporting Bengal United surprise win at Little Oakley and West Essex winning equally improbably at Saffron Walden Town, Boro are now hovering perilously close to the drop zone and in need of points.

Romford: Bradley Davison, Ryan Sammons (George Cornwell 70'), Teddy Desmond, Mitchell Keen, Rhian Fowler, Freddy Cooper, Lewis Browne (Harry Elsey 81'), Greig Stewart, Christian Adu Gyamfi, Flynn Hamilton (Jake Gordon 83'), Sonny Dutton (Louis Mathias 46')