Romford 1, Waltham Abbey 0

There have been some memorable games between Romford and Waltham Abbey over the years - Boro's 5-4 win at Capershotts in 2011 sticks particularly in the mind - but this game is unlikely to be remembered as one of them.

Both sides showed a number of changes from their previous games, with Romford boss Paul Martin giving a first start to forward Timi Babalola, while Idris Laib came off the bench for his first appearance in Blue & Gold, George Woodward started as his recovery from injury continues, and Jay Nash made a cameo appearance having been injured at Basildon a month ago.

Romford had the first chance of any note as early as the third minute when good work by Kieron Owusu set up Reece Tranter, but his shot went wide of the post. Harry Aldridge then had to be quickly off his line to thwart an Abbey forward, who went down amid appeals for a penalty from the visitors, but referee Saunders was unimpressed.

Both sides continued to create chances without being able to land a killer blow. Babalola's low cross was dummied by Danny Cossington but cleared, and Reece Tranter volleyed over the bar after George Woodward's corner had been headed only partially away. Waltham Abbey keeper Page was called into action to push away a fierce drive by Malaki Toussaint, and then Nathan Tabora, having beaten the offside trap, saw his low shot kicked away by the Abbey keeper. The visitors then went up the other end and a looping shot landed on the top of Aldridge's net.

Rob Clark had two decent chances for Waltham Abbey immediately after the break. After 47 minutes his free-kick from twenty-yards was pushed away by Aldridge, and then six minutes later he fired wide after being set up by Dominique Yiagnigni. A low shot by Antoniis Anastasios, on for Nathan Tabora, was comfortably fielded by Page in the Abbey goal, but the visitors retaliated immediately and went close with a header before Clark missed a hat-trick of chances by firing another free-kick over the bar.

With six minutes remaining and penalties looming, Romford went close when a long ball from Danny Cossington found Idris Laib, but he was denied by Page as he raced off his goal-line. The game was settled after 87 minutes when Timi Babalola scrambled the ball home from close range after Page had blocked his initial effort, to earn Romford their first points in their Velocity Trophy group, and third place ahead of the visit of Barking in the same competition in Boro's next fixture.

Romford: Harry Aldridge, Dilan Thandi, George Woodward ( Jacob Turk, 66m), Toby Barlow (Charlie Little, 28m), Michael Agboola, Danny Cossington, Malaki Toussaint, Reece Tranter (Idris Laib, 65m), Timi Babalola, Keiron Owusu (Jay Nash, 72m), Nathan Tabora (Antonius Anastasios, 57m)