Early Goals Seal Romford’s FA Cup Fate At Harleston
Three goals in the opening 20 minutes left Boro with too much to do despite Prince Sikiru’s second-half response.
By Mike Woods
After conceding three goals inside the opening 20 minutes, there was no way back for Romford in this FA Cup tie as hosts Harleston Town progressed to the Second Qualifying Round.
The hosts had had an early sight of goal when Joel Wilson’s effort was fielded by Boro keeper Lamar Johnson after only three minutes, but with six minutes played, Jake Reed’s shot from outside went beyond Johnson’s reach and into the corner thanks to a deflection.
Before Boro had a chance to recover from that blow, the home side scored again, Reed once more netting as he side-footed home a cross from the left with only 11 minutes on the clock. To complete a disastrous opening 20 minutes, Boro conceded a third when a foul by Julius Nwike had the referee pointing to the spot. Josh Durham stepped up to convert the penalty, leaving shell-shocked Romford with what would prove an insurmountable task to get anything from the game.
Romford failed to get anything on target in the first half, the best they could muster being a shot from Jaxon Brown, whose effort was blocked by a Harleston defender in the 45th minute, and even after that the home side had a further chance when Johnson had to divert Reed’s shot for a corner in the second added minute.
After the break Romford at least had more possession, but chances were thin on the ground and, in fact, the home side continued to create the better opportunities, with Josh Durham shooting wide from outside the box. As the game entered added time, Reed had two chances to add a fourth goal, rolling the ball wide of a post after being put through and then firing wide a moment later.
Boro did get one back after 68 minutes. Aron Gordon’s corner from the left was flicked across goal and Prince Sikiru prodded it home at the far post. It came after Fabio Vieira’s introduction after 66 minutes, and the winger added more zest to Boro’s play, firing one shot wide and just failing to get on the end of Greig Stewart’s cross after 76 minutes.
Although the second half was a somewhat better one from a Romford point of view, the damage had been done in an opening 20 minutes that everyone with a Boro connection will want to forget.
After FA Cup exits, talk is often about concentrating on the league, but before returning to Essex Senior League action, Boro have two more cup ties, with a trip to Burnham Ramblers in the FA Vase on Saturday 12 September and then a home game against Rayleigh Town in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday 15 September.
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