Friday’s 8-1 win was Boro’s biggest win since the victory over Beaumont Athletic by a similar score in an Essex Senior League game in 2006. It was the sixth time that Romford had scored eight or more in a game since 1992.

Friday’s game was also the biggest win that either side had recorded in fixtures between the clubs, surpassing Boro’s 6-0 win at Southchurch Park in the Essex Thames-side Trophy in 2004. Romford have met Southend Manor 37 times in all competitions, winning 20, losing 11, and drawing 6. Prior to the game on Good Friday, the most recent meeting was the 2011 FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round tie which Southend Manor won 4-2 and subsequently set a record for the club by progressing to the 4th Qualifying Round.

All of the 23 league meetings between the teams have been Essex Senior League fixtures, of which Boro have won 12, drawn 6, and lost 5.

Southend Manor have been members of the Essex Senior League since 1988. In their first season they finished seventh, and were champions in 1990-91. Since then they have been runners-up twice, in 1999-2000 behind Saffron Walden Town, and in 2011-12 when Witham Town were champions.

Southend struggled last season, and relegation to Step 6 looked a possibility until a good run at the tail end of the season saw them eventually finish 17th with 34 points, nine more than relegated St Margaretsbury. This season has been a tale of woe from start to finish. It wasn’t until 11th February that Manor won a league match, but even those three points (from a 1-0 victory at Stansted) did not count as they were deducted when Manor were found to have fielded an ineligible player. Manor’s only other win in the league this season came a week after the Stansted match when they beat Clapton 3-2.

The weather continues to play havoc with the Essex Senior League schedule, and Easter Monday’s two games – Athletic Newham v White Ensign, and FC Clacton v Redbridge – were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. The latter fixture has been tentatively arranged for tomorrow at a venue to be confirmed.

This week’s Essex Senior League fixtures are:

Tuesday 11th March:
Buckhurst Hill v Stanway Rovers
Clapton v Takeley
Southend Manor v Romford
Stansted v Halstead Town
FC Clacton v Redbridge

Wednesday 12th March:
Athletic Newham v FC Clacton
Ilford v Little Oakley
Woodford Town v Enfield

Thursday 13th March:
Sawbridgeworth Town v Redbridge
Stanway Rovers v West Essex
Takeley v Clapton

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Usually referred to as Southchurch Park, Southend Manor’s home ground is the Arena Stadium, Northumberland Crescent, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS1 2XB. Dogs are not allowed in the ground; nor is smoking.

By road, follow signs for Central Seafront which goes past The Kursaal. Turn left at the traffic lights and then go along the seafront before turning left into Lifstan Way just after Ocean Beach Café.

Turn left into Northumberland Crescent, and the entrance to Southchurch Park car park is on the left.

By rail, the nearest stations are:
Southend East (Greater Anglia): 10-15 Minute Walk
Southend Central (C2C): 25 Minute Walk
Southend Victoria (C2C): 30 Minute Walk

Admission Prices:

Adults £7
Concessions £5
Under 16s Free