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Wed 30 Oct 2019  ·  Essex County Cup 19-20
Romford Football Club
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Great Wakering Rovers
Romford 2, Great Wakering Rovers 3

Romford 2, Great Wakering Rovers 3

Michael Woods31 Oct 2019 - 07:25
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Wednesday 30th October 2019 - BBC Essex Senior Cup Third Round

For the second week in a row, Romford's midweek date ended with defeat to a late goal after Boro had taken the lead, gone behind, and then levelled with a fairly late goal themselves. On this occasion, an 86th minute goal from Jake Gordon - given the freedom of Romford's left flank - ended Boro's interest in the BBC Essex Senior Cup.

Romford gave debuts to defender David Brookman, and forward Warren Kayembe, signed from Grays Athletic and the player who scored the winning goal against Boro in the Velocity Trophy tie. Kayembe marked his debut with a goal in a display that suggests that Boro may not miss the recently departed Timi Babalola.

Both sides had opportunities in early exchanges, but it was Romford who struck first, after thirteen minutes. Antonius Anastasios moved the ball on to Kayembe in the penalty area; he appeared to be impeded but the ball ran loose to Anastasios, who had followed up on his pass, and the diminutive Boro midfielder fired past Bobby Mason in the Rovers goal. Kayembe saw Mason push a shot round the post three minutes later and then headed tamely at the keeper after Jimmy Cox had nodded on a corner. George Woodward headed over from Giovanni Palmer's cross, while at the other end Great Wakering were reduced to a number of off-target efforts from outside the box - until the final minute of the half, that is. It seemed as though Boro would carry a deserved lead in at the break until Joshua Wiggins took advantage of less than decisive Boro defending to pick up possession and drive his shot unerringly into the top corner.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Great Wakering were more assertive in the opening stages of the second half, with Jack Riddell twice making good saves. Six minutes in and Rovers might have gone ahead when - ominously - Wiggins was allowed too much space on Boro's left-wing, and found Jack Stephenson. Luckily for Boro, his effort was off target.

Antonius Anastasios had a shot deflected for a corner after a cross by Inesh Sumithran had been headed down by Jimmy Cox, and Boro put the visitors under pressure with a series of flag-kicks which sadly came to nothing. Jimmy Cox will be kicking himself for having failed to hit the target from close range just before the hour mark, and Boro were left to rue that missed chance when Adalberto Pinto headed home a left-wing corner after 65 minutes to give the visitors the lead.

Riddell then had to make a great save from Stephenson to prevent Rovers putting the game beyond Romford's reach, and Boro capitalised when good work on the right by Sumithran set up Kayembe for his debut goal, fired home the equaliser from close range.

That good work was undone four minutes from time when Jake Gordon found himself all alone on Romford's left and he stroked the ball past the advancing Riddell for what proved to be the winner.

Romford: Jack Riddell, Inesh Sumithran, Giovanni Palmer (Nathan Joseph, 76m), David Brookman (Danny Cossington, 66m), Dilan Thandi, Danny Nesbitt, Malaki Toussaint, Jimmy Cox, Warren Kayembe, Antonius Anastasios (Charlie Little, 66m). Sub not used: Toby Barlow

Match details

Match date

Wed 30 Oct 2019

Kickoff

19:45

Attendance

70

Competition

Essex County Cup 19-20
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Shirt Sponsor - PCS Legal
Programme sponsor - Romford Snooker Hall
Programme sponsor - Coral Romford Greyhound
Programme  - Mix N Lay
Programme - Romford Eats
Club sponsor - Ginger Spice
Programme and Website - Green Footprint Services
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