Three Points on the Road for Boro

By Mike Woods

White Ensign 0, Romford 2

Two goals inside four second-half minutes earned Romford their first away win since November, lifting Boro one place in the table and moving them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

On a difficult, soft and rutted surface, Romford dominated for long periods and were unlucky not to go into the break in front. Teddy Desmond headed Lewis Browne’s cross over the bar after nine minutes, before a shot from outside the box by Jake Gordon was deflected over by a White Ensign defender shortly afterwards.

New Boro defender Mitchell Keen went close with a header that drifted just over the bar as he met Flynn Hamilton’s free-kick after 23 minutes, and two minutes later Sonny Dutton nearly connected with a volley from Browne, the ball whistling past the post.

White Ensign’s Emmanuel Sergio cut in from the right and fired across the face of goal after 32 minutes. Soon after, the hosts appealed for a penalty, but referee Mihai Nitu ruled that Brad Davison’s challenge was fair. Five minutes before the interval, White Ensign had the ball in the net from a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Romford continued to look the stronger side after the restart. Hamilton’s effort in the opening minute of the second half flew narrowly over the bar before Davison did well to claim a low ball. In the 56th minute, Boro broke quickly, with Jake Gordon denied only by a last-ditch defensive intervention that conceded a corner.

Romford took the lead after 62 minutes. Ryan Sammons’ cross from the right was claimed by White Ensign keeper James Scammell, but the assistant referee correctly spotted that the goalkeeper had carried the ball over his own goal line.

Just three minutes later, Boro doubled their advantage. Sonny Dutton met Lewis Browne’s cross from the right with a firm header that beat Scammell and found the net.

White Ensign’s best chance of the second half fell to Riley Weir, whose 66th-minute effort skimmed the Romford crossbar. Boro, however, continued to threaten. Rhian Fowler headed Hamilton’s corner just over the bar after 75 minutes, and in the final minute Christian Adu Gyamfi set up George Cornwell, whose shot was pushed away at full stretch by Scammell.

It was an important victory for Romford ahead of the visit of Woodford Town to Mayesbrook Park next Saturday. Boro were 2–1 winners when the sides met earlier in the season and will be aiming to complete the double against a side that has lost three of its last six matches.

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