Romford (1) 2, Stanway Pegasus (0) 1 – Saturday 13th January – Isuzu FA Vase Fourth Round

Boro are through to the Fifth Round of the FA Vase for the first time since 1997, but the margin of victory should have been much more than a single goal as numerous chances were created but not converted. A combination of narrowly off-target shots and good saves by Stanway keeper Sam Felgate restricted Boro to a two goal lead, and when Pegasus pulled one back eighteen minutes from the end, it meant for a nervy finish in which both teams were reduced to ten men.

The first half was fairly low key. Stanway had the game’s first chance when Sam Cripps saw his shot on the turn pushed away by Jake Anderson after eight minutes, but sixty seconds later, Romford were ahead. Ash Siddik set Finlay Dorrell free, and he exchanged passes with Hassan Nalbant, skipped past defender Zach Waiter-Smith and keeper Felgate before planting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

In an opening period punctuated by many complaints from the Stanway players and bench, Boro picked up three yellow cards. Darren Phillips’ retaliation after being fouled was fair enough, but the cards for Jacob Wiggins and Finlay Dorrell – whose challenge barely even warranted a free-kick – seemed especially harsh.

It looked as though Boro would be two up after 33 minutes when a chance fell to Hassan Nalbant in a similar position to the one that Dorrell converted, but this time, although the shot had Felgate beaten, it came back off a post and was cleared after Boro were unable to convert the rebound.

Stanway’s Dean Ager became the first visiting player booked seven minutes into the second period after a late challenge on Lee Hursit, and Boro ought to have made Stanway pay shortly afterwards when Jacob Wiggins intercepted a pass and set up Nalbant, whose shot was saved by the diving Felgate.

On the hour, Boro doubled their lead. A long cross-field pass by Darren Phillips picked out Finlay Dorrell, who was brought down by Reece Keating as he strode into the box. Referee Mayer kept his cards in his pocket, but Stanway were punished enough when Charlie Morris drove his spot kick straight down the middle as Felgate dived to his right.

Finlay Dorrell should probably have done better when, having won the ball deep in opposition territory, he ran across goal and past Felgate before shooting narrowly wide after 67 minutes. Five minutes later and Stanway snatched a life-line when Jake Anderson uncharacteristically failed to deal with a low cross from the right and Callum Griff tapped home from close range.
Boro’s new signing Mike Faulkner drew a foul from Cripps who was rightly booked,and Faulkner caused the visiting defence plenty of problems with his pace and direct running. George Barron was possibly lucky just to see yellow after a late and poor challenge on the young winger.

Felgate saved from Dorrell after Nalbant had created the chance for him and Morris was denied twice in quick succession, once by Felgate and once by a covering defender. Dorrell had the ball in the net after latching onto Faulkner’s pass but an offside flag cut short Boro celebrations.

Stanway exerted plenty of pressure without threatening Anderson unduly as the game entered its closing stages. After one of the visitors’ desperate appeals for a penalty had been correctly waved away by referee Mayer, a melee ensued after Boro had cleared and Darren Phillips – who seemed to be more sinned against than sinning – was shown a second yellow. Stanway’s Josh Dillon was also shown yellow, but the numerical parity was restored when the visitors were reduced to ten men as Cripps was shown a straight red in the same incident. Charlie Morris picked up Boro’s fifth yellow card when he was booked for dallying over a throw in six minutes after the end of the regulation ninety.

There was still time for Romford to miss one final chance as Nalbant fired over the bar after being picked out by Faulkner’s astute pass as a cup tie that became increasingly frantic the more it wore on was eventually concluded after eight minutes of stoppage time.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Jamie Hursit, Junior Luke, Scott Doe, Lee Hursit (Michael Faulkner, 71m), Jacob Wiggins, Hassan Nalbant, Ash Siddik, Finlay Dorrell (Joseph Sulolu, 91m), Charlie Morris, Darren Phillips. [i] Unused subs: [/] Danny Hurford, Toheeb Elegushi, Bruno Gomes, Bradley Mott, Alvin Smeraldi.