Romford (1) 2, Hullbridge Sports (1) 1 – Wednesday 21st October 2026 – Essex Senior League

The pre-match consensus among Romford supporters was that a point would be a very good result against a high-flying Hullbridge Sports side who were unbeaten in their previous eight league games, and as the match entered its closing stages, that looked exactly how it would pan out. Until the 87th minute, that is.

Hullbridge’s Jack Hayes fouled Jaxon Brown on Boro’s left flank and finally exhausted referee Nazarij Bilanovszki’s patience after more than an hour of regular misconduct and was yellow carded. Kian Cocking swung the free-kick into the penalty area where it was met by a Hullbridge header that had no distance on it and the ball fell invitingly for Jack Zielinski to fire a shot into the bottom corner for what proved to be the winner.

Given Hullbridge’s league position and recent form, it was no great surprise that they were the dominant side in the opening stages, and they created a couple of decent chances before going in front after 19 minutes.

With 13 minutes gone, the visitors moved the ball well on the right to create an opening that ended with a shot that was too high, and two minutes later Nick Dembelle fired wildly over the bar after Romford had only partially cleared a free-kick, but in the 19th minute another free-kick saw Hullbridge go ahead. Taylor Lawrence swung the ball in from the right and Fred Agyemang’s glancing header found the net despite Boro keeper George Sapsford getting a hand to it.

Hullbridge continued to have the lion’s share of possession without looking especially likely to increase their lead as the Romford defence, in which Jake Barlow was as solid and calm as usual, held firm, but gradually Boro began to claw their way back into the game. Zielinski headed a cross from Teddy Desmond well wide after 23 minutes, and with 31 minutes played, Greig Stewart shot over.

At the other end it took the combined efforts of a couple of Romford defenders to block Hullbridge shots, but with the clock ticking down to half-time, Boro levelled. Aron Gordon, Zielinski and Brown combined to put Desmond through in the inside-left channel, and he made no mistake, lifting his shot over the advancing Bobby Mason.

Although Hullbridge had been the more dominant force in the first period, the second half was much more even, in fact Boro possibly shaded it and had the more clear cut chances.

Barlow headed Cocking’s corner wide after 52 minutes and an excellent low cross by Gordon, met by Cocking on the far side, was deflected for a corner in the 56th minute. At the other end George Sapsford, in for the injured Lamar Johnson, made an outstanding save to deny Hullbridge’s Matas Machovas, turning his well struck shot over the bar with 58 minutes played.

Chances were exchanged as Zielinski headed wide from Cocking’s free-kick and Alfie Osborne side-footed Gordon’s low cross just the wrong side of the post for Boro, while Hullbridge’s Machovas shot wide.

New signing Kenny Nobrega limped out of proceedings after 74 minutes following a late challenge by Oliver Spooner to add to Boro’s injury woes. Spooner was most fortunate to escape without a card.

No doubt Hullbridge were resigned to dropping two points by this late stage, but even that was denied them as Romford completed a comeback win through Zielinski’s strike, a win that was well merited after possibly the best 45 minutes of football that Boro have put together all season.

Next for Boro are a local derby against Ilford and trip up the M11 to Saffron Walden Town, games that can be approached in a confident frame of mind after this first-rate victory.

Romford: George Sapsford, Kenny Nobrega (Chris John 80'), Teddy Desmond, Alfie Osborne, Jake Barlow, Julius Nwike, Aron Gordon (Matt Blake 84'), Greig Stewart (Ekow Owusu-Boakye 70'), Jack Zielinski. Jaxon Brown, Kian Cocking. Unused subs: Freddy Tandon, Ezra Agyiri.

Report: Mike Woods