A 77th minute goal from Romford’s former Dagenham & Redbridge man Bagasan Graham settled this entertaining affair in which the visitors more than played their part on a soggy evening at Barking. In fact, there were periods in the early stages in which the young Basildon side outpassed Romford and created a number of decent chances.

In the very first minute Romford had a very plausible claim for a penalty declined when Dave Winfield received a hefty shove in the back as he attempted to reach a corner from the right. Referee Howard Collins gave a corner.

Basildon then created two good openings. Just a minute after Boro’s penalty claim, Matthew Cafer had to plunge to his left to keep out a header from Samuel Jeremiah, and then after eight minutes Tyrone Baker cut in from the left and fired in a shot that Romford were grateful to see clear the crossbar.

Basildon continued to push Romford back, but Boro had a good chance to go ahead when a Bees defender headed across his own goal in trying to clear and despite having a clear sight of goal, Bagasan Graham headed rather tamely wide. Graham then tried his luck from outside the box, and his deflected shot was pushed away for a corner by George Marsh in the Basildon goal.

Marsh then defied David Winfield, blocking the Boro defender’s header at close range from a long free-kick, but Basildon then went close when Jeremiah’s shot on the turn was just too high.

After shot-shy performances against Canvey Island and Aveley, Boro now developed a taste for shooting at goal and twice went close as the half drew to a close. After 38 minutes Graham had a shot well saved and after the loose ball had been worked back across the box, Remi Nelson was just a whisker too high with a fierce drive. Basildon brought the half to a close by getting the ball in the Boro net, but an assistant’s flag was already up for offside.

Romford started the second half by creating more chances in the opening ten minutes than they had in the whole of the two previous league games. Former Margate man Michael Abnett – making his debut – crossed from the left and Lee Newton headed over after 48 minutes and two minutes later Toby Ajala’s curling shot from outside the box hit the bar. Three good chances came inside the 55th minute alone. Abnett swept a cross from Marvin McCoy over the bar and then Basildon keeper Marsh rescued his side, saving from Newton after the visitors had lost possession from their own goal kick. From the resulting corner, Remi Nelson had a shot deflected over, and in a scramble that followed the subsequent corner, Basildon had to defend desperately to clear.

Basildon continued to play nice football and Ruben Carvalho might have done better than hit the side netting with his shot just before the hour mark. Lee Newton then fired in a low shot that Marsh made heavy weather of in shovelling round the post after 62 minutes, and then Remi Nelson hit a low shot straight at the keeper.

The breakthrough came with thirteen minutes of normal time remaining. Adrian Cascaval’s clearing header found Abnett, who played the ball down the line to Bagasan Graham. Graham ran strongly at the Basildon defence, cutting inside from the left and across Marsh before burying his shot into the net.

In the time remaining, Basildon saw plenty of the ball and Romford – who gave Jay May some valuable game time after his injury at Brightlingsea – were grateful for the final whistle that lifts them to sixth in the embryonic league table.

Romford: Matthew Cafer, Ejiro Okosieme, Ridwan Ajala, Remi Nelson, Adrian Cascaval, David Winfield, Marvin McCoy, Sean Bonnet Johnson, Bagasan Graham, Lee Newton (Jay May, 84m), Michael Abnett. Unused subs: Anointed Chukwu, Matthew Parsons, Emmanuel Udoji, Ashlee Jones.