Romford’s run of league defeats extends to seven, but this was a marked improvement on some recent performances, and had David Luzolo’s penalty not been saved in the first minute of the second half, the result might have been different.

The home side had an early chance when their former Romford forward Shomari Barnwell beat Carlos Simeon to a high ball, but the ensuing chance was cleared, and just a moment later, catastrophic defending from the home side gifted Boro the lead. David Luzolo lost control of a through ball, which was tidied up by Maldon full-back Al-Amin Kazeem, however his attempt at a back pass to his keeper went horribly wrong, and despite a desperate scramble by Tommy Dixon-Hodge, the ball trickled over the line for a comic own goal.

Boro’s lead lasted just three minutes, however. In the nineteenth minute Guy Kiangebeni made an excellent challenge to deny Charlee Hughes at the expense of a corner, which Romford failed to clear. The ball ran kindly for Scott Kemp who drilled a low shot into the far corner.

Maldon full back Al-Amin Kazeem more than made up for his own goal with a series of dangerous crosses, from one of which Barnwell headed wide. Carlos Simeon then had to make a low block to deny Shad Ngandu after the forward had been put through by a long kick from his keeper; Kiangebeni completed the clearance.

Maldon went ahead through Barnwell after 32 minutes when he was left criminally unattended to convert Al-Amin Kazeem’s low free-kick, awarded for a foul by Billy Hayes. In an error strewn first half, Maldon presented Boro with an immediate equaliser that owed much to the persistence of Luzolo and Darnell Kithambo, who chased down and dispossessed Maldon defender Joe Turpin as he attempted to let the ball run out of play for a goal kick. Luzolo’s low cross found Jacopo Gatti who scored from close range.

Mohammed Raza picked up a yellow card in the last minute of the first half for kicking the ball away at a throw in, and in the first minute of additional time, Charlee Hughes headed home what proved to be the winner from another of Al-Amin Kazeem’s left wing crosses.

The second half saw Maldon push Romford back for long periods, but good defending by Boro prevented them from increasing their lead, and Boro had two decent chances to level the scores themselves. In the first minute of the second period, Maldon’s Turpin made a hash of an attempted clearance and handled in his own penalty area. Unfortunately for Boro, David Luzolo’s penalty was too close to the keeper, who parried his shot and foiled Luzolo again by saving the follow up.

Romford’s other good chance fell to Billy Hayes whose shot from long range looked to be heading for the top corner until Dixon-Hodge pushed in round the post.

Maldon’s best chances fell to Hughes, who headed wide from a corner and then scooped a low cross over the bar, while Barnwell shot into the side netting.

The final chance of the afternoon fell to Boro substitute Kai Haysman, who broke into the Maldon penalty in the last minute but then saw his attempted chip shot gathered by Dixon-Hodge.

The first half having been so eventful, and goal and error strewn, the second half was always likely to fall short in terms of excitement, but Romford more than played their part in one of the most entertaining games of the season. But there are no points for style and once again the final whistle sounded with Boro having nothing to show for their efforts.

Romford: Carlos Simeon, Momodou Jallow (Kai Haysman, 72m), Mohammed Raza (Razmi Mahmoudi, 87m), Samuel Dickens, Guy Kiangebeni, Valckx Fernandes, Darius Izukanne, Billy Hayes, Darnell Kithambo, Jacopo Gatti, David Luzolo. Unused subs: Brandon Bullman, Josh George, L’heureux Menga.

Pictured: Carlos Simeon takes a cross under pressure. (Photo by Alan Blackholly)