Dereham are currently six points outside the play-off places and last Saturday were beaten 2-1 at Maldon & Tiptree, where the home side scored the winner in the last minute. Dereham’s game with Boro is the first of four consecutive home games for The Magpies, with Barking, Canvey Island, and Brentwood Town all to come in a run that may well define their season.

While Dereham were at Maldon last Saturday, Boro were beaten at home again, this time by Great Wakering Rovers. It was new boss Jon Fowell’s first game in charge, and no doubt gave him plenty of food for thought ahead of Saturday’s game.

Previous meetings:

Romford first met Dereham in 2013 after the Norfolk side had been promoted from the Eastern Counties League. In the fourteen league meetings since, Dereham have won ten while Boro have managed just two wins, with two games drawn. The first meeting was at Ship Lane and ended 2-1 to Dereham; the last time the sides played one another was at Mayesbrook Park earlier this season when Dereham won 4-0.

Romford’s last visit to Aldiss Park was in November 2019 and was Glenn Tamplin’s second game in charge. It ended 3-1 to Dereham and Romford finished with ten men after Jake Hall was sent off.

Boro’s only win at Aldiss Park was in 2017 when Jonathon Adebayo, Kai Bichard, and Greg Akpele scored in a game that ended 3-2. Romford’s other win over The Magpies was at Ship Lane in 2014. On that occasion, Boro won 4-2 with goals from Jack Barry (2), Ryan Imbert, and a Paul Clayton penalty.

This season:

Dereham’s home record is strong this season with eight wins and three draws. Only Aveley and Felixstowe have left Aldiss Park with all three points. Dereham have won their last three at home, beating Stowmarket Town, AFC Sudbury, and Tilbury.

Their recent form overall has been mixed however, with two wins and four defeats in their last six, including their last two games against Aveley and Maldon & Tiptree. Adam Hipperson and Toby Hilliard, who have been with the club some time, lead Dereham’s goalscoring charts with 17 and 12 goals respectively.

Getting there:

Depending on your preferred route, it’s between 103 and 144 miles from Romford to Dereham, and if you are driving, it’s going to take between one hour fifty minutes and two and a quarter hours. Alternative routes are M25, M11, A11, A47, or A14, A14, A140, A47.

The full address and Post Code of Dereham Town FC is:
Aldiss Park
Norwich Road
Dereham
Norfolk
NR20 3PX

There is a large car park on site.

Getting there by public transport is something of an endurance test at the best of times, but even more so this Saturday as there are engineering works going which mean having to get a rail replacement bus to Shenfield then a train to Norwich. From Norwich Station it’s bus No 8 from stop DE to Dereham which drops you off opposite Windmill Avenue, Eckling Grange and then it's a 9 minute walk to the ground.

Alternatively, there’s a coach running from Romford, with a pick-up at Brentwood. The coach will leave King Georges Playing Field at 10.30 and Brentwood Holiday Inn at 10.50. Prices are members £13, non-members £15, on the day £17.50

Admission Prices:
Adult £8
Over 65s £5
Under-16 £2
*Forces and Key worker special - £5 entry upon showing of valid ID at turnstile

Other Isthmian League games this week:

Results:
Tuesday
Brentwood Town 1, Hashtag United 3
Coggeshall Town 1, Tilbury 0
Felixstowe & Walton United 1, AFC Sudbury 2
Maldon & Tiptree 0, Aveley 0

Fixtures:
Saturday:
Barking v Bury Town
Basildon United v Hullbridge Sports
Coggeshall Town v Canvey Island
Felixstowe & Walton United v Aveley
Grays Athletic v Witham Town
Great Wakering Rovers v Maldon & Tiptree
Hashtag United v Stowmarket Town
Heybridge Swifts v Brentwood Town
Tilbury v AFC Sudbury

Picture: Action from Boro’s home game against Dereham in November (Alan Blackholly)