Nothing is ever easy or straightforward for Romford. Notwithstanding the cushion of a two goal lead entering the last minute – despite having been reduced to ten men with half an hour to play – Boro had to hang on after conceding a second Rovers goal and then seeing their opponents miss a golden opportunity with almost the last kick of the game.

Sixty-two minutes had been played when Sam Elwood foolishly kicked out at an opponent after being fouled and was red carded with Boro leading 2-1. Boro then scored a third – Sheri Artmeladze completing his hat-trick with his sixth goal of the season – and looked to be home and hosed. Except that Rovers pulled one back in the last minute and then in the second minute of stoppage time, when the impressive Victor Osobu sent over a cross from the left, the ball was only partially cleared and Axel Owusu, with the goal at his mercy and seemingly certain to hit the target to force extra-time, fired over the bar. Boro breathed a sigh of relief and the final whistle was quickly blown to earn a trip to Brightlingsea Regent in the Preliminary Round.

Romford created some decent chances before Sheri Artmeladze opened the scoring after 20 minutes. The pick of Boro’s these came after 16 minutes when Toheeb Elegushi found Aundre Spencer and his excellent cross from the left was side footed just wide by Praise Ogbebor. Artmeladze had already seen a shot go just wide of goal after he had combined well with Chris Millar, but when Ogbebor won the ball in his own half and ran powerfully down the left, his pass gave Artmeladze the chance to curl a shot round Eynesbury keeper Ryan Hunter and in at the far post (main picture, by Bob Knightley).

Chris Millar then went close with a well struck shot with the outside of his right foot that was a fraction wide of the post, but Eynesbury created chances that might have drawn them level. Qamil Dervishaj saved comfortably from Osobu immediately after Boro’s goal and Michael King struck a long range effort that was well off target, but the pick of their chances came when Osobu got clear, and after some initial hesitation from Dervishaj, the Boro keeper held his ground and his nerve to block the Rovers forward’s effort.

With three minutes left in the half Boro netted their second. Chris Millar found Toheeb Elegushi on the right and his low cross-shot was converted from close range by Artmeladze. The two goal lead lasted just a couple of minutes however, as Rovers defender Michael King struck a low free-kick past Dervishaj in the penultimate minute of the half.

There were chances for both sides in the opening exchanges of the second half with Millar shooting over from Artmeladze’s pull back and then Artmeladze chipping over after his heavy touch from Jake Giddings’s pass had forced him wide.

Boro won two free-kicks on the edge of the Rovers penalty area in quick succession, both for fouls on Ogbebor. The first was blocked and the second, taken by Spencer, went well over the bar.

Romford were grateful to Dervishaj for grabbing a loose, dangerous, bouncing ball in the six-yard box following a corner but almost immediately Boro had their third goal. Praise Ogbebor, now playing as a right back following Elwood’s dismissal, launched a long, diagonal pass that put the Rovers central defenders out of the game, allowing Artmeladze to collect, round Hunter, and score from an angle.

Two goals down but a man up, the visitors inevitably began to dominate. Osobu ended a good run by shooting wide and substitute Fraelas Mienambozo fired in a speculative effort that was off target after 87 minutes. In the final minute the visitors reduced the deficit when a corner from the left was fired at goal and Dervishaj blocked, only for the ball to run loose to Oliver Brookes who scored from close range.

The reward for this win is a game at Brightlingsea Regent, a team that Boro have not beaten in seven previous outings: There’s a first time for everything.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Sam Elwood, Kojo Feyi (Daniel Nakipov-Getmansky 60'), Jacob Adeyemi, Aundre Spencer, Jake Giddings( Leandro Alva 70'), Lucas Polyblank (Prince Manuel Commodore 65'), Chris Millar(Kalum Bama 77'), Toheeb Elegushi, Shermandin Artmeladze (David Owiredu 81'), Praise Ogbebor. Unused subs: Isaac Sijuade, Elliott Howson.