Boro Thwarted by Crossbar and Lose Again

By Mike Woods

Romford 0, Ilford 3

It wasn’t Romford’s day as play-off contenders Ilford left Mayesbrook Park with all three points, but the outcome might have been very different had Boro not been denied by the crossbar on three separate occasions.

Both sides had early chances, with Ilford’s Ahmed Dousa shooting wide in the opening minute before Boro responded when Lewis Browne was denied by Ilford goalkeeper Wilkinson Boateng, who blocked his shot with his feet.

Boro struck the crossbar after 16 minutes when Christian Adu Gyamfi fired in a shot that crashed off the Ilford bar and over. It was the visitors who then opened the scoring after 24 minutes. Romford cleared a dangerous right-wing cross from Maksym Trush, but when the ball reached Louis Hiobi, the defender stepped forward and scored with a deflected shot that wrong-footed Brad Davison and found the net.

Ilford went close again after 35 minutes when Michael Adu fired wide, and a minute later Daniel Izekor was played through but struck the post. Boro then hit the crossbar for a second time just before the interval, with Nick Reynolds heading Flynn Hamilton’s free-kick against the Ilford bar in the 41st minute.

The second half began with Davison making a terrific save from a corner that was headed goalwards. Ilford then had two players booked within two minutes, but in an eventful opening to the half, the visitors doubled their lead after 54 minutes. Davison did well to save the initial effort but could do nothing to stop Ilford’s Adu heading home the rebound.

On the hour mark, Ryan Sammons was set up by Adu Gyamfi and saw his shot saved at the second attempt by Boateng. Romford were then relieved to see Emmanuel Wazola shoot just wide after being set up by Greg Akpele in the 71st minute.

Romford introduced Sonny Dutton in place of Lewis Browne, and the substitute was denied when Boateng blocked his low shot. Ilford then broke quickly and would have added another goal but for a crucial goal-line clearance by Boro.

Boro struck the crossbar for the third time after 82 minutes when Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson cut in from the right and unleashed a left-footed shot that beat Boateng but rebounded to safety off the bar.

Ilford compounded Romford’s misery in the sixth minute of added time when a low ball in from the right found the defence stretched, allowing Michael Okafor to tap home.

Romford’s attention now turns to next Saturday’s trip to Great Wakering to face White Ensign in a match kicking off at the earlier time of 2pm. When the sides met earlier in the season, Boro recovered from three goals down to rescue a point.

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