Boro Out Of FA Vase
Romford exit the FA Vase after an early double blow from Hadleigh United.
By Mike Woods
Romford’s interest in the FA Vase is over for another year as visitors Hadleigh United struck twice in the opening 20 minutes to build what proved to be an unassailable lead.
There were only eight minutes played when Hadleigh went ahead. Kolade Salahudeen’s square pass put his defensive partner Jake Barlow under pressure and Rocco Leeks pounced, taking possession and driving a shot past Lamar Johnson.
The visitors netted a second after 18 minutes when, after Boro keeper Lamar Johnson had kept out two efforts, the ball was squared to Curtis Harvey, who netted from close range.
Callum Burkey played Jaxon Brown into space as Boro tried to get back into the game, but Brown’s shot after 22 minutes was blocked. Burkey then struck a free-kick which Hadleigh goalkeeper Ryan Lees turned round a post, and from the resulting corner, Brown headed against the crossbar.
Boro hit the frame of the goal again in the 43rd minute when Greig Stewart’s curling shot from the corner of the penalty area hit the far post and bounced to safety, while at the other end Hadleigh were denied a third goal only by a diving save by Johnson from Leeks’s shot.
Hadleigh looked to have gone three ahead five minutes after the break when Shane Murphy was put through and found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Visiting keeper Lees cut out a dangerous cross after 67 minutes and launched an attack from which Murphy really ought to have made it three rather than shoot wide, but the third Hadleigh goal wasn’t long in coming. Salahudeen’s hurried clearance was intercepted by Kieran Driver after 72 minutes and he beat Johnson with a well-placed shot.
Only now did Romford manage to create some decent chances. Sikiru had a shot turned over the bar by Lees after 77 minutes and in stoppage time Kelson McFarlane had one effort blocked on the line after Lees had pushed out a shot and then could only watch as the goalkeeper turned his shot round the post.
All in all, a very disappointing afternoon for Boro who had ample possession but failed to turn it into goals against a Hadleigh side whose win was built on a simple style of play, quick breaks and incisive finishing.
Boro’s attention now returns to the league with two home games in the coming week. On Tuesday, Basildon United, whom Boro beat on the opening day of the season, come to Mayesbrook Park, and on Saturday the visitors are Clapton Community.
As part of Romford FC’s 150-year celebrations (the original club were formed in October 1876), the club are taking donations for Collier Row and Romford Foodbank at the home game against Clapton CFC. A similar collection last season resulted in a quarter of a tonne of food going to the foodbank, and the club hope to exceed that this year.
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