Romford Suffer Back-To-Back Defeats As Manager Darren Manning Resigns
A 6–0 home defeat to Hutton was followed by a much-improved display in a 3–1 loss at Heybridge Swifts, with Romford undergoing a change of manager between the two matches.
By Mike Woods
Heybridge Swifts 3, Romford 1
In the days following Saturday’s defeat against Hutton, Romford manager Darren Manning resigned and Dan Brown, who had been interim manager last season, took charge for the midweek visit to high-flying Heybridge Swifts.
In what was always going to be a tough game, Romford produced a much better performance than they had against Hutton and made the league leaders work really hard for their eventual 3–1 victory. In fact, Boro took the lead through Jack Zielinski, who curled home a delightful shot after being set up by Aron Gordon in the first half. The lead lasted just a few minutes, however, with Swifts levelling through Alex Golder’s low shot.
Although George Sapsford was the busier of the two goalkeepers, making a particularly fine save from Swifts forward Ben Search’s shot, Boro gave at least as good as they got in the first half, but came under increasing pressure in the second.
Sapsford and his defence kept Swifts at bay until the 76th minute, when Zack Littlejohn scored from close range after the Boro defence had been unable to clear. The scoring was completed when, after Sapsford had saved an initial shot, the ball ran kindly for Chris Manangu to tap home.
Photographs from Romford’s match at Heybridge
Romford 0, Hutton 6
Boro’s home game last Saturday turned into a Halloween horror show as Romford went down 6–0 to Hutton at Mayesbrook Park.
The visitors served a warning in the first minute when Adam Vyse shot wide, but Hutton were ahead after only six minutes when a good passing move created an opportunity for Chukwuka Eseka, who netted from eight yards.
Ekow Owusu-Boakye had a header saved by Hutton keeper Stefan Lamacq, and then Jake Barlow headed Kian Cocking’s corner over the bar. But with 18 minutes played, Hutton doubled their lead when they set up Andrei Cocan for a shot that beat George Sapsford’s dive.
Only a good save by Sapsford prevented Eseka getting his second after 26 minutes, but the Boro keeper was powerless to prevent a third Hutton goal on 31 minutes when the visitors moved the ball across from the left and Luca Savill tapped home.
Boro’s best chance of the first half fell to Jack Zielinski, who was sent clear of the Hutton defence by Kenny Nobrega’s pass after 36 minutes, but Zielinski sent his shot narrowly wide.
Any hopes that Romford might have had of a second-half revival were firmly quashed after 52 minutes when Adam Vyse curled a shot past Sapsford, again after Boro had lost possession in their own half.
Hutton once again took advantage of Romford losing possession when they netted their fifth through Savill on the hour mark. They immediately struck again when Boro once more gifted them possession, allowing Savill to stride forward and drive a shot into the net from outside the box to complete his hat-trick and a miserable afternoon for Romford.
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