The first half saw Boro’s youngsters squander a host of decent chances before getting caught by a sucker punch to trail at the interval, but after the break they got their shooting boots on and ought really to have won by a more handsome margin.

Olukulo was a constant thorn in Barkingside’s defence, and he created any number of good chances for himself and his team-mates. After 15 minutes his low cross was fired over the bar by Avell Hunte, who then created a chance for Javell Benjamin, whose heavy touch as he ran onto a through pass allowed the ‘Side keeper to block.

Another good run by Olukolu ended with a desperate clearance from a Barkingside defender hitting his own crossbar, and then Noah Ogunyomi was denied by the visitors’ keeper, before then shooting wide. Five minutes from the break, Benjamin hit the bar with a cracking drive, but Barkingside promptly went up the other end and took the lead against the run of play.

That lead lasted just five minutes into the second half as Olukolu controlled a long pass from the right and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner. A minute later it was 2-1 as Bobby Brazier fired home a low shot, and it might have been three immediately as Jake Garvey’s shot was just off-target.

After 57 minutes Boro were awarded a penalty as Olukolu was fouled, and he stepped up to convert the spot-kick himself. On the hour mark Barkingside reduced the arrears when Romford messed up a free-kick in their own penalty area, but Boro put the seal on a deserved victory two minutes before the end when Olukolu bagged his third, racing on to a through ball and converting a low shot.