Romford Boro Begin Pre-Season With Two Narrow Defeats

16th July 202616th July 2026 The Havering Daily 0 Comments Aron Gordon, Ben, Bob Knightley, Boro, Boro's, Cockfosters, Darren Manning, Essex Senior League, Fabio Viera, Gary Beechey, Hassan Nalbant, Jake Anderson, Little Oakley, Matt Price, Matt Price Romford, Mayesbrook Park, Mike Woods Romford, Nikolay Zlatev, Price, Romford, Romford's, Shrimpers, Southend, Southend United XI, Trialist, Trialists, Two Narrow Defeats, Vinny Murphy min read

By Mike Woods

Romford opened their pre-season programme with a pair of defeats. Last Saturday, on a sweltering afternoon, a Southend United XI made up from The Shrimpers Under 18 and Under 23 sides were the visitors to Mayesbrook Park. A goal in each half – one from the prolific Nikolay Zlatev, who netted over 40 goals last season – gave the visitors a 2-0 victory.

*New signing Aron Gordon, under the watchful eyes of Vinny Murphy and Darren Manning (All photos credited to Bob Knightley)*

Romford’s best efforts in the first half both came from Ben McCrow. In the 41^st minute McCrow cut in from the right and hit the foot of a post with a left foot shot and then the penultimate minute of the half his low cross was deflected against a post by a defender and behind for a corner.

The visitors went ahead after 32 minutes with a rising shot from just inside the Boro penalty area and they doubled their lead after 56 minutes when Boro’s trialist goalkeeper pushed out a shot only for the rebound to be quickly converted.

*Romford’s new team manager Darren Manning (centre) with assistant manager Vinny Murphy (left) and coach Gary Beechey.*

The best of Romford’s second half chances fell to one of a number of Trialists who was denied by the Southend goalkeeper after being put through after 54 minutes, while another Trialist had a shot blocked by the visiting keeper just before the hour mark.

On Tuesday evening Romford faced Cockfosters, again at Mayesbrook Park, with the visitors fielding two ex-Boro players in Jake Anderson and Hassan Nalbant. Matt Price had Boro’s best first half efforts, being thwarted by Cockfosters’ keeper Jake Anderson, who was quickly off his line after 29 minutes, and when the ball was recycled, Price curled a shot against the foot of a post.

Boro also went close through Fabio Viera who found space on the right only to see his shot deflected wide by a visiting defender just before the interval.

*The Southend goalkeeper claims the ball under a challenge from Romford striker Matt Price*

Romford had largely been on top in the first period without a goal to show for it, but after the interval Cockfosters posed more of an attacking threat, and they scored after 65 minutes when a cross from the left was headed back across goal for a close-range finish. It proved to be the game’s only goal as Cockfosters ran out 1-0 winners.

Although results in pre-season are not the be all and end all, Boro will be hoping for a better outcome when they travel to face last season’s Essex Senior League champions Little Oakley on Saturday.

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