While Boro were kicking off the season with a handsome win over Stanway Rovers, tomorrow night’s opponents were winning at Saffron Walden Town, where the home side had six ex-Boro players in their starting line-up, with another joining the fray from the bench. A goal from Abdul Khamis was all that separated the teams as Newham won 1-0.

Both Boro and The Kings will be looking to build on Saturday’s victories in the second round of Essex Senior League fixtures.

Previous Meetings:

There have been just four previous meetings between Boro and Athletic Newham with just one of those games ending with a Romford victory. The very first fixture was an Essex Senior League encounter at Mayesbrook Park in February 2023 that ended 2-2. The return fixture was not played having been postponed twice due to a postponed pitch at the Terence MacMillan Stadium.

There were three games between the sides last season, all at different venues. At Mayesbrook Park in October 2023, Newham won an Essex Senior Cup tie 5-1 in which the prolific Richard Kone scored three times. Bruno Gomes scored Boro’s solitary goal. Richard Kone has since moved on to Football League side Wycombe Wanderers. The home ESL game was played at Rookery Hill in November 2023 and again the visitors were the winners, 2-1 this time, with Charlie Morris scoring Romford’s goal.

The third and final game last season saw Romford win 4-1 on Athletic Newham’s patch; Hassan Nalbant scored twice with Amaree Robinson-Jones ( pictured, by Bob Knightley) and Finlay Dorrell scoring the others.

While there has not been much player movement between the clubs, Boro’s squad this season include Aundre Spencer, who played 13 times for The Kings last season, while their squad includes former Boro players Derek O’Halem and Inesh Sumithran.

Last Season:

Athletic Newham finished in 11th place in the Essex Senior League last season with 52 points from their 38 games. There was something of a surprise when the Athletic Newham management team of Chris Davis and Ray Bartlett departed for Ilford with a number of players following leading to Francesco Zabotti taking over as manager.

In the FA Vase last season, Newham were exempt until the First Round, in which they beat Staplehurst Monarchs. They then beat Wembley before exiting the competition 2-0 at home to Erith Town. Newham are again exempt until the First Round this season. Last season’s FA Cup campaign saw them beat Tooting & Mitcham United in the Extra-Preliminary Round before losing at home to Westfield.

This season, Athletic Newham have been handed an away tie against Chipstead in the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round next Saturday against opponents who were relegated from the Isthmian League - South Central Division last season, and who now play in the Combined Counties League.

This week’s other Essex Senior League fixtures:

Today (Tuesday) sees the following eight fixtures:

Barking v Stanway Rovers
Benfleet v Ilford
Frenford v White Ensign
Great Wakering Rovers v Takeley
Halstead Town v Hullbridge Sports
Little Oakley v Stansted
Sawbridgeworth Town v Woodford Town
West Essex v FC Clacton

Tomorrow evening, as well as Boro’s game against Athletic Newham, Buckhurst Hill are at home to Saffron Walden Town.