Grays Athletic 3 (2) - (0) 2 ROMFORD Attendance 262

Romford had a chance to open the scoring inside the first minute but Ben Jones's shot cleared the cross bar. Romford were then left shell shocked as Grays struck twice in two minutes with two soft goals, firstly a Jared Small cross was headed home by Joao Carlos on eight minutes before Danny Bunce's free kick took a wicked deflection off the Boro wall and past the helpless Chris Clark.
Bunce then nearly scored a wonder goal on eighteen minutes when after running nearly the length of the pitch he shot straight at Chris Clark.
Romford came close to getting back in the game on twenty-seven minutes when Ben Jones hit a shot that dipped and bounced just in front of George Kamurasi but the big stopper produced a fine save. Ten minutes before half time and Lewis Francis broke the offside trap but he fired his shot against the bar and Nick Reynolds could only put the rebound over.

Romford should have scored straight after half time when Ben Jones failed to capitalise on a Junior Baker mistake and shot straight at Kamurasi when clean through and at the other end Harry Agombar shot over moments later for Grays after good work by Small. On fifty-three minutes Lewis Francis took a free kick and with everyone expecting a cross his shot whistled just past the Grays goal. It looked like it was going to be one of those nights for Romford but they finally got a goal back on fifty-nine minutes when captain for the night Paul Clayton headed home Lewis Francis's free kick. Boro now had a new found belief and took the game to Grays. Moments after coming on as substitute Kurt Smith playing his one hundreth game for the Boro, won a penalty after being fouled by Kamurasi. The big keeper made amends by saving Lewis Francis's spot kick but Ben Jones was on hand to poke home the rebound.
With the scores level and twenty-two minutes still to be played Romford were on top but Grays seemed to be edging back into the match with Carlos flashing the ball across the Boro goal, but no one could get on the end of it.. With eight minutes to go Jeff Hammond was sent off for a second bookable offence but this only seemed to inspire Grays and in injury time Junior Baker was on hand at the far post to poke in the ball and give Grays the three points. The result was tough on Romford who despite missing several first choice players had matched their hosts who are one of the favourites for at least a place in the promotion play-offs.

GRAYS ATHLETIC 3 CARLOS 8, BUNCE 12, BAKER 90+1
ROMFORD 2 CLAYTON 59, JONES 67

ROMFORD: CHRIS CLARK, ADAM SALMON, JAMIE DICKS, PAUL CLAYTON, LEWIS PAYNE, MICHAEL SAMMUT, TOM RICHARDSON, LEWIS FRANCIS, NICK REYNOLDS (BILLY HUNT 80), BEN JONES (ALFIE HILTON 87), GEORGE WOODWARD (KURT SMITH 65)

YELLOW CARDS: LEWIS FRANCIS