Opening Day Win For Boro

3rd August 20263rd August 2026 The Havering Daily 0 Comments Alfie Leach, Alfie Osbourne's, Barton Rovers, Basildon, Beattie, Ben Sargent, Bob Knightley, Boro, Brown, Charlie Hare, Conor Beattie, Desmond, Enriqu Kalsi, Essex Senior League, Flynn Hamilton, Jaxon Brown, Jaxon Brown's, Lesedi Mbegabolawe, Lochlain Murray, Mayesbrook Park, Mbegabolawe, Mike Woods Basildon United, Osbourne, Robbie Allen, Romford, Romford's, Round, Saturday's FA Cup, Southern League Central Division, Step, Susteck min read

By Mike Woods

Basildon United 1, Romford 2

A goal from Alfie Leach, just three minutes after he had joined the game as a substitute, clinched maximum points for Boro on the opening Saturday of the Essex Senior League season. Leach met a corner from Flynn Hamilton and bundled the ball over the line with five minutes remaining after Basildon had levelled the scores following Jaxon Brown’s goal for Boro that came in first half stoppage time.

The home side were on top in the opening stages but it was Romford who had the first shot of note with Alfie Osbourne’s 13^th minute shot going wide. Basildon’s early chances were a header from Charlie Hare that went wide, while Boro keeper Conor Beattie had to save from Robbie Allen at his near post.

*Teddy Desmond delivers a cross* *(All photos credited to Bob Knightley)*

Flynn Hamilton sent a shot wide for Boro and Jaxon Brown put an overhead kick over the bar before scoring the opening goal four minutes into added time at the end of the first half. Teddy Desmond played a long ball forward that bounced invitingly for Brown, and with Basildon keeper Enriqu Kalsi having come off his line and finding himself somewhat in no man’s land, the Boro forward headed over him and into the net.

Brown was sin-binned in the early stages of the second half and Basildon took advantage of their temporary numerical advantage to put Boro under pressure. Daniel Susteck shot straight at Beattie after latching onto a less than decisive clearance and then Ben Sargent had to make a vital clearance as a low cross came in from the right. The home side’s pressure paid off in the 66^th minute when Lochlain Murray lost his marker and headed home a right wing cross.

*Alfie leach (12) scores Romford’s winning goal*

Beattie had to kick away a goal bound effort from Lesedi Mbegabolawe immediately after the goal and with 13 minutes remaining, Mbegabolawe volleyed over from a cross from the right.

By now Boro were restored to full strength and began to get back into the game. An excellent cross-field ball by Osbourne gave Brown a shooting opportunity and when his effort was deflected wide, Flynn Hamilton flighted a corner into the Basildon six-yard box that Alfie Leach diverted into the net for the decisive goal.

*Jaxon Brown celebrates his goal with team mates*

A satisfactory start for Boro, although sterner tests lie ahead, starting with this coming Saturday’s FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round tie in which Step 4 side Barton Rovers come to Mayesbrook Park. Barton have yet to start their league programme but finished ninth in the Southern League Central Division last season.

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