Shoot-Out Win For Boro

21st August 202621st August 2026 The Havering Daily 0 Comments Baldock Town, BBC Essex Senior Cup, Ben, Ben Mcrow's, Boro, Boro's, Both, Darren Manning, Dhillon, Ekow, Elton Gjonbala, FA Cup, Fabio Vieira's, Flynn Hamilton, Friday's FA Vase, Goalkeeper George Sapsford, Harwich, Harwich & Parkeston, Harwich's, Healy, Ilford, Jaxon Brown, Jaxon Brown's, Joe, Mayesbrook Park, Mike Woods Romford, Next, Oakley Mcnair, Preliminary Round, Romford, Sapsford, Second Round, Spartan South Midland League, Vieira, William Healey, Win min read

By Mike Woods

Romford 0, Harwich & Parkeston 0 – Romford won 3-1 on penalties

Goalkeeper George Sapsford was Boro’s matchwinner as he saved three Harwich penalties in the shoot-out on his debut to earn his team a place in the Second Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup.

Boro boss Darren Manning made a number of changes for this game, with goalkeeper and back four all different from Friday’s FA Vase win over Ilford and Elton Gjonbala making his first competitive start up front.

*Fabio Vieira outpaces a Harwich defender (All photos credited to Bob Knightley)*

Both sides missed the target with early chances, but overall, this was an evening on which neither team managed to get much on target until the shoot-out. Harwich were reduced to ten men after 33 minutes when Oakley Mcnair was dismissed for a challenge on Ekow Owusu-Boakye and generally, Romford had much more of the play.

There were relatively few chances in the opening 45 minutes, the best of which for Romford were Fabio Vieira’s shot that flashed across goal and Jaxon Brown’s curling effort that Harwich keeper William Healey saved.

*George Sapsford makes one of three penalty saves in the shoot-out*

Romford had plenty of possession against the ten men of Harwich after the break, but too many crosses and passes were overhit, passing harmlessly wide or over the bar, although in the second minute of the second half, Vieira had a cross cleared, and then another deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.

Harwich’s response required Sapsford to punch away a dangerous corner, while Joe Boreham-Knight ought to have done better than to shoot well wide after 63 minutes. Dhillon Sandu-Nelson shot across the face of goal for Romford after 79 minutes, and Ben McCrow forced a save from Healy after 68 minutes.

*George Sapsford is congratulated by Matt Price and Prince Sikiru*

In the shoot-out, Ben Mcrow’s spot kick hit the base of a post, but Flynn Hamilton, Jaxon Brown, and Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson converted theirs while Sapsford dived right and left to save two, but only had to stand straight to stop a third and secure victory.

Next for Romford is another cup tie this Saturday when Spartan South Midland League side Baldock Town come to Mayesbrook Park in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

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