Hullbridge Sports (0) 0, Romford (1) 1 – Saturday 11th April 2026 – Essex Senior League

A 34th minute goal from Greig Stewart – his first for the club – proved to be enough for Boro to claim a vital win in the fight to avoid relegation.

On a blustery afternoon, Romford were largely on top in the first half and created the better chances, but with just one goal to show for it going into the second half – in which the home side had the advantage of the wind – Boro had a good deal of defending to do after the break to preserve their lead, which they did successfully to record only the second clean sheet of the season.

Louis Matthias had the game’s first shot, but his fourth minute effort from 25 yards went over the bar. Lee Haylock’s quick clearance found Joe Damrell the furthest Boro player forward after eleven minutes and when the ball was played across to Teddy Desmond, the Boro full-back’s cross was headed wide by Christian Adu Gyamfi. Two minutes later Flynn Hamilton tried his luck from range, but his effort went wide of Sam Taylor’s goal.

Although Hullbridge began to come into the game more from this point, they failed to unduly trouble Lee Haylock, whose interventions were largely confined to catching crosses or wayward forward passes. In the best opening that Hullbridge created in the first period, Nick Reynolds had to block an effort from Patrick Da Lomba, who had cut in from the left.

The crucial breakthrough for Boro came after 34 minutes. A throw in on the right was worked across the edge of the penalty area, finding Greig Stewart, whose left foot shot found the corner of the net despite Hullbridge keeper Taylor getting a hand to the ball.

As the wind became increasingly blustery, Hullbridge pushed Romford back for much of the second half, but Boro dealt competently with everything. Jean Paul Jhonnes-Ramos tried a shot from outside the box in the 49th minute, but Lee Haylock turned it over via the crossbar. From the ensuing corner the ball fell to ex-Boro striker Ellis Devereux, but he shot wide.

On the hour there was an opportunity for Romford to double their lead when a long forward pass by Flynn Hamilton found Matt Price, who got behind Hullbridge keeper Taylor only for a covering defender clearing before the Boro striker could capitalise. Two minutes later however, Hullbridge came closest to an equaliser when Haylock saved well with a foot from a close range shot by Da Lomba. Shortly after that, Greig Stewart forced Taylor into a save with a cross that might have drifted in at the far post without his intervention.

Five minutes from the end Matt Price drove a low shot that was only a whisker wide, but as the game entered the last of eight minutes of stoppage time, Devereux had a clear shooting opportunity but put the ball well wide to the relief of everyone of a Boro persuasion.

With Athletic Newham beaten by Buckhurst Hill, Romford move up one place, however, Sporting Bengal United won for the first time in eight games, so Boro cannot rest on their laurels yet, although this win is a positive step towards the goal of maintaining Step 5 status.

Romford: Lee Haylock, Joe Damrell (Munir Hadi 89'), Teddy Desmond, Harry Elsey, Ben Sampayo, Nick Reynolds, Greig Stewart, Louis Mathias, Christian Adu Gyamfi, Flynn Hamilton, Matthew Price (Darnell Fuller 89') Unused subs: Ibitayo Oyebola, Chris Millar, Henry Hart

Report by Mike Woods