Grays Athletic 3, Romford 2

Barring an unlikely combination of results in the remaining games in the group, defeat here probably means the end of Romford's Velocity Trophy campaign, but they more than played their part in a thoroughly entertaining match settled by a late, late goal from Grays' substitute Warren Kayembe.

From the start, Romford put Grays on the back foot and there were just over sixty seconds on the clock when Timi Babalola's effort was blocked by Sambridge in the home goal and Ethan Kessell hit the post from the loose ball. Giovanni Palmer carried on from where he left off on Saturday against Histon with two early chances, first making a good interception but delivering a disappointing cross, and then latching on to a long cross-field pass but missing the target with his shot.

Rashaad Ogun was twice involved early on, firing over in the fifteenth minute when well placed, and then, three minutes later, appearing to be fouled by Sambridge after he had got past the keeper who had misjudged the bounce of the ball; referee Joseph Gray was disinclined to award a penalty, however. A minute later though, and Romford were ahead when a fine pass wide found Inesh Sumithran, and when his low cross could only be parried by Sambridge, Malaki Toussaint was on hand to fire to loose ball into the net.

Grays were at this point reduced to off-target long-range shots as Romford's defence picked off their attacking passes, and Boro might have increased their lead as Danny Nesbitt headed narrowly wide from Ethan Kessell's free-kick. Grays did put Romford under some pressure from corners, but it seemed as though Boro would reach the interval with a goal advantage until, in the 44th minute, Mitchell Hahn scored following a free-kick, the ball creeping in at the far post with Jack Riddell in the Boro goal possibly unsighted. There was still time for Giovanni Palmer to burst through the Grays back-line, but his shot was off target.

Two minutes into the second half and Grays, who had clearly been given a stiff talking to at the break, were in front when Manny Ogunrinde caught a cross from the left with a peach of a volley that gave Riddell no chance. Grays were pushing forward now and Luke Callender's pass set up Ogunrinde again, but this time Riddell made a good save at the expense of a corner, from which Grays won a penalty, presumably for some pushing in the box. George Purcell stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Riddell plunged to his right to make an excellent save.

Giovanni Palmer might have levelled the scores on fifty-seven minutes when he made another good interception, but having found himself with only the keeper to beat, chipped the ball narrowly wide. Romford then lost the impressive Michael Agboola to injury, the big defender was hurt when making a challenge in his own penalty area and was replaced by Danny Cossington.

An extravagant rabona cross by Grays' Michael Pindy required the combined efforts of Riddell and Cossington to prevent a third goal for the home side, and they were to rue that miss when Keiron Owusu's 80th minute seemingly harmless cross from the left was misjudged by Sambridge and went straight in to put Boro level.

Grays were reduced to ten men when Stanley Muguo's deliberate handball earned him a second yellow, and Romford went close from the resulting free-kick, while Jimmy Cox might have won the game for Boro, but his late shot went just wide.

With the game seemingly heading for the group's first penalty shoot-out, the home side nicked all three points when Warren Kayembe drove the ball low into the far corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Despite the defeat, Romford can take heart from the performance in which they more than matched their hosts for long periods of the game, and with a little more good fortune in front of goal, could have been comfortable winners.

Romford: Jack Riddell, Inesh Sumithran, Giovanni Palmer, Michael Agboola (Danny Cossington, 62m), Danny Nesbitt, Dhilan Thandi, Malaki Toussaint, Charlie Little (Jimmy Cox, 81m), Timi Babalola, Rashaad Ogun, Ethan Kessell. Subs not used: Luke McLeavy, Toby