Whitehawk 2, Romford 1

A controversial penalty four minutes into the second half proved to be the turning point in this game, wiping out Romford's interval lead and spurring the hosts on to push Boro back and progress to the next round, an outcome that had looked unlikely on the basis of the first half in which Boro were largely on top.

Straight from the kick-off, slick Romford passing set up George Woodward for a shot from range that was narrowly off target, but the hosts retaliated immediately with Jordan Gibbons - who proved to be the home side's most influential player - seeing his low drive pushed wide of the post by Jack Riddell. Rhyle Ovenden headed over the Romford crossbar from a dangerous free-kick, although he was ruled offside anyway, but Boro were close to going in front after 24 minutes when a low cross from the right by Malaki Toussaint was met at the far post by Charlie Little, but he was only able to deflect the ball wide of goal.

Three Romford players - Toby Barlow, Jimmy Cox, and Charlie Little - went into referee Andrew Connor's notebook in quick succession, with the yellow cards handed out to Barlow and Cox particularly harsh. Cox's challenge seemed to barely warrant a free-kick, let alone a caution, and Barlow was penalised despite seeming to win the ball cleanly. The Farnham based official infuriated the Boro faithful, and not just with these bookings and the penalty award, as having given a drop-ball after being struck by a Romford clearance, he appeared unaware that drop-balls can now not be contested, leading to Michael Agboola having to make a hasty clearance under pressure from a Whitehawk player who ought not to have been anywhere near.

There was a narrow escape for Romford after 27 minutes when a left-wing corner caused some chaos in the penalty area before the ball was cleared, but Boro had a good chance thereafter when Jimmy Cox might have done better as he shot wide after being set up by Toussaint. Two minutes before the break, Romford were ahead as Cox found Little on the left and his low cross was deflected into his own net by Whitehawk defender Matias Torres. There was still time for Boro to have increased their lead when Luke McLeavy headed a Woodward corner narrowly wide in the final seconds of the first half.

Four minutes after the break, Whitehawk levelled the scores when David Martin sent Jack Riddell the wrong way from the penalty spot after Charlie Little was adjudged to have fouled Jordan Gibbons. Referee Connor seemed not to see anything wrong with the challenge, but his assistant came to Whitehawk's rescue by flagging furiously with a spot-kick the decision. Whitehawk's Gibbons was later involved in another controversial incident when he scythed down Little by the corner flag, leading to some pushing and shoving, and an eventual yellow card for Gibbons, a sanction that seemed lenient when compared with the cautions meted out to Romford's Cox and Barlow.

Whitehawk were by now pushing Romford back and scored what proved to be the winner after 74 minutes when Lucas Rodrigues beat Danny Cossington on Boro's right flank, cut the ball back and Connor Tighe side-footed home. It might have been worse for Boro as five minutes before the end Rodrigues burst through but was denied by Riddell's boot.

A disappointing end to a game that had begun promisingly, with the £750 losers cheque scant consolation.

Romford: Jack Riddell, Malaki Toussaint, Toby Barlow, Luke McLeavy, Michael Agboola, Danny Cossington, Phillip Brown-Bampoe, George Woodward (Ethan Kessell, 64m), Timi Babalola, Jimmy Cox (Inesh Sumithran, 78m), Charlie Little (Giovanni Palmer, 68m). Subs not used: Danny Nesbitt, Reece Tranter.