Despite the lack of goals the game was not without entertainment with both teams playing some decent football but mostly cancelling each other out in midfield. In the first half Aveley went nearest with a fierce shot from Toner rattling the crossbar and Boro's best chance came on the half hour when Jonathan Adebayo could not adjust his body position enough to get a clean header on Kwasi Marfo's cross with the goal gaping. The visitors then went straight up the other end to find the net but it was ruled out for offside. Just before the break Romford had a goal of their own disallowed and this seemed more contentious, as Danny Cossington soared to meet a cross and headed back across goal for unmarked skipper James Ishmail to nod in. However the whistle had gone for a supposed push on a defender by Cossington which nobody else appeared to have seen.
Callum Chafer had to be alert in the Romford goal to push out a good early second half Aveley effort and then for the third home match in succession Boro were reduced to ten men with yet another harsh dismissal. In the first half Greg Akpele had gone down after a tackle and despite not making a meal of it, the referee brandished a yellow for simulation from a position well behind play. The second yellow then came for a seemingly accidental brush with ex Romford man Max Mitchell, leaving the hosts a man short for the last half hour. As expected, from then on Aveley had most of the territorial advantage but both keepers still had little to do and the season came to a close with honours shared.
So once again with the least resources of any club in the division, Romford ended their eighth season in the Ryman North well clear of the relegation zone in sixteenth position. Another remarkable achievement by Paul Martin and his staff and players.
ROMFORD (0) 0
AVELEY (0) 0
ROMFORD: Callum CHAFER, Ryan BOSWELL, Akwasi MARFO, James ISHMAIL (C), Danny COSSINGTON, Jamie DICKS, Chris BARRY, (Ayo OLUKOGA 80), Jonathan ADEBAYO (Chris TAYLOR 85), Chinedu MCKENZIE, Greg AKPELE, Jack BROWNE-SYKES (Nick REYNOLDS 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Tom POTTER, Charlie PARRISH, Stephen REYNOLDS
YELLOW CARDS: Greg AKELE 32 61, Jonathan ADEBAYO 58, Chris BARRY 63
RED CARD: Greg AKPELE 61