Basildon United 3 (0) - (1) 1 ROMFORD Attendance 124 - Gardener's Close

The Boro who were in a confident mood after winning last Saturday kicked off with a strong wind behind them and proceeded to camp in the Basildon half. The visitors won a throw right near the corner flag in the twelfth minute that was launched into the box by full back Nathan Joseph. The ball looked to be heading behind for a corner before a Bee's defender tried to keep it in play but only managed to hook the ball high and back into the box where caught by the swirling wind, it dropped on the goal line where another defender cleared the ball onto the bar and George Woodward smashed home the rebound from six yards. A short while after it looked like Romford would go two up when Toby Barlow made a great tackle and sent a beautiful ball over the defence to Ayo Olukoga who controlled it and shot low, but the keeper made an excellent save with his feet. From then on, despite their dominance Romford created very little in the way of further chances and needed Danny Nesbitt's head to block a powerful Basildon shot right on half time.

The home side now had the wind on their side for the second period but made very little with it until a ball to the far post caught Joseph and Harry Aldridge in two minds allowing winger Daniel Cheema to sneak in and fire home to equalise in the fifty-seventh minute. Romford were once again the masters of their own downfall when they gave away possession and striker Callum Taylor raced onto a through ball, but despite him looking to be heading away from goal, defender John Maskell dived in and conceded a penalty. The striker picked himself up and smashed the spot kick home to give Basildon the lead without them really having to work for it. The hosts grabbed their third in strange circumstances when Joseph Paxman turned in a low cross at the far post after the Romford defence had stopped, thinking the ball was going out. The Boro created very little in response and the game petered out with them looking even more likely to face the drop with time and games running out.

BASILDON UNITED (0) 3 CHEEMA 57, TAYLOR 64 (P) PAXMAN 69
ROMFORD (1) 1 GEORGE WOODWARD 12

ROMFORD: HARRY ALDRIDGE, NATHAN JOSEPH (GREG AKPELE 75), TOBY BARLOW, JOHN MASKELL, AYO OLUKOGA, DANNY NESBITT, GEORGE WOODWARD, MALAKI TOUSSAINT, PEDRO CARVALHO (NICK REYNOLDS 75), MAX BOLTON (CHRIS TAYLOR 77), REECE HEWITT SUBS NOT USED PHILIP BROWN-BAMPOE

YELLOW CARDS: TOBY BARLOW 43, JOHN MASKELL 84