Basildon United 6, Romford 0

There can be no sugar-coating of this result; Romford were truly dreadful for more than an hour of this contest, by which time a Basildon United that included four former Boro players in their starring eleven, and had two more on the bench, were home and hosed. Basildon are far from being the best side that Romford will face this season, but they stuck to their task, did all of the basics right, and reaped the rewards as Boro defended like strangers and only looked capable of mounting some sort of threat on the home goal when the game was well beyond them.

There were just seven minutes on the clock when Ayomikun Odukoya cut in from the right, out-muscled Billy Stewart, who was starting at left-back for Romford, and fired past a startled Harry Aldridge. Basildon came close to adding a second when Harry Norman fired narrowly wide, but Romford then fashioned their first opening when Jonathon Nzengo saw his shot deflected wide for a corner after 19 minutes. Four minutes later, Odukoya doubled Basildon's advantage, running onto a long through ball and delicately chipping the ball over the advancing Aldridge.

A strong run by Boro's Stanley Green set up a chance for Jay Nash after 32 minutes, but his shot was easily blocked. That proved to be Nash's last contribution, as he injured an ankle challenging for a ball by the touchline and had to be replaced by Reece Tranter. Giovanni Palmer's strong run ended with him firing narrowly over, but Boro's predicament worsened when Odukoya completed his hat-trick with a solid far-post header from a left-wing cross after 41 minutes. Romford's first half misery was completed when a low cross from the right was diverted home by Boro defender Louis Hiobi on the stroke of half-time.

Any hopes that Romford supporters might have entertained about a second half comeback were dashed with just three minutes on the clock after the break. A free-kick - one of countless that Boro conceded in their own half during the ninety minutes - was floated over from the left flank and Adam Vyse was given the freedom of the six-yard box to plant a header into the net to make if five.

Adeniyi Gbolahan, who had replaced Joshua Samuels, was twice denied by Hawes in the Basildon goal, but Basildon added a sixth in the 59th minute when Harry Aldridge's clearance was returned with interest, and the Boro keeper was forced to concede a corner. The flag-kick reached the far post where an unopposed header put the ball firmly back into the danger zone, giving Vyse an easy opportunity to claim his second goal with a close range header.

Romford did continue to create chances, however. Reece Tranter's free-kick was headed narrowly over the bar, and Rashaad Ogun headed wide from a decent position before forcing Hawes into a rare save with a low shot that the Basildon keeper was happy to see off for a corner. Tranter's fine shot at the end of a good run cannoned off the crossbar, and Hawes was forced into a smart save to deny Jimmy Cox from the rebound. The final chance of the evening fell to Gbolahan, who deserved better when his powerful run ended with a shot that was narrowly wide.

An evening to forget, for sure, but there will be stiffer tests than this as the season progresses, and there is no room for a repeat of this performance if Boro are to avoid another struggle at the foot of the table.

Romford: Harry Aldridge, Joshua Samuels (Adeniyi Gbolahan, 55m), Billy Stewart (Rashaad Ogun, 73m), Louis Hiobi, Dilan Thandi, Malaki Toussaint, Stanley Green, Giovanni Palmer, Jimmy Cox, Jay Nash (Reece Tranter, 42m), Jonathon Nzengo. Subs not used: Danny Nesbitt, Jack Riddell