Romford 0, Brentwood Town 3

There were some different names in Paul Martin’s first Romford squad of 2022, including Robin Ruston (who last played for Boro in 2004) in goal in place of the departing Carlos Simeon (bound for Brentwood Town it seems), and on the bench, Mario Gjini, who made four starts in 2018. The result however, was all too familiar as the visitors scored at the start and the end of the first half, and despite a lot of endeavour and hard work, Boro were unable to claw their way back into the game.

Romford have conceded a number of early goals this season, and have also conceded a number where possession has been lost close to their own goal. The opening goal of this game featured both of those failings. Just three minutes had elapsed when Robin Ruston received the ball at his feet in his own six-yard box after Boro had passed the ball around at the back. Former Great Wakering striker Ashley Nzala – who terrorised the Romford defence in the game at Burroughs Park in November – pressurised the Boro keeper, dispossessing him to tap in what surely is the worst goal Boro have conceded this season.

In what was a remarkably low-key game, the next action of any significance also came in the Boro penalty area when Brentwood’s Rob Harvey went to ground but rather than the penalty the away team were hoping for, all they got was a yellow card to Harvey for simulation.

Romford really ought to have equalised after 34 minutes when new boy Justin Bailey was found on the right. His low cross was perfectly delivered to Christian Adu Gyamfi who seemed nailed on to score, but after controlling the ball, the Boro striker could only hit Brentwood keeper Ollie Bowles with his shot when hitting the back of the net seemed easier.

Brentwood’s Nzala shot over the bar and Harvey broke through only to shoot feebly at Ruston in the last minute of the half, when it seemed that Romford would be able to regroup at the interval just one goal in arrears, but in the second minute of stoppage time, the visitors scored again. There seemed little danger when Nzala received the ball in the company of three Boro defenders, but he slipped between them and calmly placed the ball beyond Ruston’s reach.

The second half was largely incident free. Just before the hour, L’heureux Menga (on for Justin Bailey) had an effort blocked by Bowles, but the next action of any real note wasn’t until the 78th minute when Ruston had to come off his line smartly to deny Brentwood substitute Haziz Kone.

George Craddock rounded off the afternoon’s scoring for Brentwood with a cracking volley from just inside the penalty area after 82 minutes, and the same player bent a shot just over the bar three minutes later. In between, Brentwood sub Freddie Gard hit the base of a post.

There were some encouraging signs for Romford, who showed plenty of commitment and effort, but goals remain worryingly hard to come by and all the while Boro are not scoring, the threat of conceding remains large. Paul Martin will be looking to change things at both ends of the pitch in the coming weeks.

Romford: Robin Ruston, Samuel Egole (Bleron Ademi, 53m), Warren Beattie, Sam Dickens, George Pugh, Danny Cossington, Justin Bailey (L’heureux Menga, 53m), Billy Hayes, Christian Adu Gyamfi, Ramzi Mahmoudi (Mario Gjini, 78m), Momodou Jallow. Unused subs: Jamal Batchilly, Darnell Kithambo

Picture shows a rare Romford corner (Alan Blackholly)