Home Win For Boro At Last!

By Mike Woods, Romford Official

Romford 3, West Essex 1

Only one other Essex Senior League game – between Athletic Newham and Benfleet – survived on what was a bitterly cold afternoon, and Romford’s best crowd of the season (176) were treated to a first home win of the campaign thanks to two goals from Christian Adu Gyamfi and one from Nick Reynolds.

Both sides had early chances. After six minutes, West Essex keeper Charlie Mann fumbled Henry Hart’s cross, but Harry Elsey’s follow-up went wide. A half-hit effort from Joe Damrell then reached Hart, whose shot went straight to Mann.

After 16 minutes, Romford took the lead when Nick Reynolds rose highest to head home from Flynn Hamilton’s corner.

Boro were indebted to Brad Davison for two saves in quick succession before Henry Hart had three opportunities to increase the lead. After 24 minutes, Mann pawed Hart’s shot away, then the Boro full-back headed a difficult chance over from Elsey’s cross before ending the half with an overhead kick that cleared the crossbar.

The visitors came out strongly at the start of the second half. Wesley Santos’s free-kick went wide of goal for a corner off the Boro defensive wall before West Essex levelled the scores in the 52nd minute when Reece Simpson’s shot went in off the post.

Lewis Browne had a shot pushed out by Mann on the hour mark, but Boro were then reduced to ten men when Freddy Cooper was sin-binned. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Romford continued to press. Henry Hart met Christian Adu Gyamfi’s ball in from the right with a fierce shot that was blocked before rolling the rebound wide.

After 67 minutes, Joe Damrell cut inside from the right, bursting between two defenders before being brought down for a penalty. Christian Adu Gyamfi stepped up and placed his shot straight down the middle as Mann dived to his right.

Romford extended their lead in the 83rd minute when Freddy Cooper returned from the sin-bin and hoisted a high ball for Adu Gyamfi to chase. Boro’s leading scorer shrugged off two defenders and fired through Mann’s legs from a tight angle for his seventh league goal of the season.

Boro could have had a fourth when Damrell burst through but was denied by Mann three minutes from time, and the West Essex keeper saved again from Adu Gyamfi in the final minute.

Brad Davison turned Fred Agyemang’s shot round the post just after Mann had saved from Damrell, and the visitors did have the ball in the net in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

This was a vital win for Romford, keeping them in touch with the three sides immediately above them. It was particularly important with next Saturday’s trip to league leaders Little Oakley looming, weather permitting.

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