After Saturday’s convincing FA Cup win, Romford return to Essex Senior League action tomorrow evening with a trip to the Thames Estuary to face Great Wakering Rovers.

While Boro were winning 4-1 at Halstead Town on Saturday, Rovers were eliminated from the FA Cup at Saffron Walden Town, where they lost 1-0.

Rovers have to date played three competitive fixtures this season and have collected one point in the two of those that were Essex Senior League games. They opened the season with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of newly promoted Sporting Bengal United, a game in which they were beaten by a twice-taken, last minute penalty, having missed two spot kicks of their own. They followed this us with a trip to Chadfields where they drew 0-0.

There will be a few faces in the Rovers squad who will be familiar to Romford supporters as former Boro players Danny Cossington, Jake Gordon, Jay Nash, and Luis Shamshoum have all featured in games this season, while another, Keiron Owusu, is also among their registered players.

Previous Meetings:

Great Wakering Rovers are one of Romford’s most frequently faced opponents over the years; the sides have met 38 times with only Brentwood Town and Redbridge featuring in more matches. Of those 38 meetings, 28 have been in Essex Senior or Isthmian League fixtures with the other 10 coming in a range of cup competitions.

Boro’s full record against Rovers is:
Overall: P 38 W 18 D 4 L 16 F 64 A 67
League games only: P 28 W 12 D 3 L 13 F 38 A 48

The first meeting between the teams was an Essex Senior League game played at Burroughs Park in November 1992, which Boro won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Gary Crampton after just 23 seconds. A bizarre afternoon was punctuated by a series of power cuts in the Wakering clubhouse, and the Romford supporters’ coach bursting into flames.

Recent meetings have largely gone the way of Great Wakering, who have won the last seven and in the last three of which, Romford have failed to score. The most recent meetings between the teams came in Boro’s traumatic last season in the Isthmian League with Rovers winning 3-0 at Burroughs Park and 5-0 at Mayesbrook Park.

Action from Boro’s most recent visit to Great Wakering. Picture: Alan Blackholly.

Romford’s last win over Great Wakering came on the opening day of the 2018-19 season when goals from Kris Newby, Jon Nzengo, and Roddy Lemba earned a 3-0 victory.

Getting there:

You all probably know the way by now, after all Boro have played there often enough, but just in case: The full address of the ground is Burroughs Park, Little Wakering Hall Lane, Great Wakering, Essex, SS3 0HH. By road from Romford it’s about an hour’s drive, depending on traffic.

A journey by public transport will take about two hours and necessitates getting to Southend Victoria and catching the number 7 or number 14 bus. Getting home by public transport is possible but is likely to take even longer.

Admission Prices:
Admission Prices at Burroughs Park are:
Adult £10
Concessions £6
Student £6
10-16 Year Olds £2
Programmes are online only.

Essex Senior League fixtures this week:
Monday 7th August:
Ilford v Colney Heath – FA Cup EP Round Replay

Tuesday 8th August:
Barking v Tilbury
Great Wakering Rovers v Romford
Saffron Walden Town v Coggeshall Town
Brantham Athletic v Buckhurst Hill – FA Cup EP Round Replay
FC Clacton v Real Bedford – FA Cup EP Round
Little Oakley v Baldock Town - FA Cup EP Round
Stanway Rovers v Harpenden Town - FA Cup EP Round
Tooting & Mitcham v Athletic Newham - FA Cup EP Round Replay

Wednesday 9th August:
Woodford Town v White Ensign

Date to be advised:
Stansfeld v Sporting Bengal United - FA Cup EP Round Replay