Three points for Romford and two red cards for Ilford were the major post-match talking points as Boro returned to winning ways, recording a victory away from home for the first time this season.

Kalum Bama’s stoppage time goal halted any thoughts of an Ilford comeback, while red cards for the home side’s Ahmadi and Wazola similarly scuppered their chances.

Ilford’s Nik Ahmadi received a straight red for his part in a rather needless fracas that followed the award of a free-kick to Romford in midfield midway through the second half. The incident also saw Boro’s Derek Feyi booked along with Ilford’s Daayan Salifou as referee Ricardo Reynolds failed to prevent a rather routine happening from escalating into something that involved almost every player on the pitch, and some from off it. Ilford’s Emmanuel Wazola joined his team mate in the walk of shame to the dressing room eight minutes into second half stoppage time for a foul on Sam Elwood.

A goal for each side apart, the first forty-five minutes were largely uneventful. Boro went ahead with a penalty from Aundre Spence after 16 minutes after Praise Ogbebor had run onto Spencer’s ball down the left and been pulled back by Ahmadi. Ilford keeper Wilkinson Boateng went the right way but Spencer’s spot kick found the bottom corner of the net.

Despite Romford having more possession, it was the home side that had the better of the first half chances. A foul by Spencer on the edge of the Boro area resulted in a free-kick that was deflected wide for a corner from which Harry Girling had to make an important block after 26 minutes, and after 39 minutes Ilford’s Michael Olatunji headed wide.

The home side equalised after 42 minutes though Michael Adu who scored from close range after Boro had only half cleared Kaan Junior’s corner, and in the last minute of the half they might had gone ahead, but former Boro favourite Greg Akpele could only roll his shot wide of the goal when well placed.

Two key second half incidents saw both sides give the ball away cheaply with very different outcomes. After 54 minutes Romford conceded possession from their own free-kick but a combination of hesitant play from Ilford and good defending from Boro averted the danger. After 59 minutes however, Ilford were punished after giving the ball away from a free-kick of their own and Kennedy Feyi scored with a low shot from just outside the box for his third goal in four games.

Kennedy Feyi was then denied by Boateng when he met Sam Elwood’s cross with a crisp shot as Boro began to assert themselves, but it needed a good save by Girling to prevent Ilford from again levelling the scores. Boateng saved well from another low shot by Kennedy Feyi after 84 minutes, but Boro were not to be denied a third, even if they did have to wait until the second minute of stoppage time for it.

Praise Ogbebor scampered down the right and held the ball despite the efforts of Ilford defender Michael Adu to hold him back, before laying the ball off for Kalum Bama to place his shot into the roof of the net.

No movement in the table despite this win, but an important result bearing in mind that it’s nearly two weeks before Boro are again in league action.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood, Aundre Spencer, Jake Giddings (Lucas Polyblank 58m), Kojo Feyi, Eli Benoit(Andy Morris 79m), Arnold Mengi (Reece McGovern 86m), Kennedy Feyi (Ross Elsom 86m), Brendan Ocran, Toheeb Elegushi (Kalum Bama 79m),Praise Ogbebor