Romford (0) 0, Little Oakley (0) 0 – Tuesday 14th January 2025 – Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Quarter-Final Little Oakley won 6-5 on penalties

The last time that Romford were involved in a penalty shoot-out a place in the FA Vase Final was at stake. On that occasion Boro came through 10-9, but in this much more low key affair, it was Little Oakley who triumphed, securing their place in the Semi-Final of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy with their third shoot-out win in the competition this season.

Defeat here was the first that Romford have suffered in a penalty shoot-out since the 2018 Velocity Trophy game at Ware in 2018, since when there have been five consecutive wins on penalties for Boro.

In fairness, the visitors had by far the better opportunities to win this game in normal time and it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Boro had a shot on target worthy of the name, when Toheeb Elegushi’s curling shot was tipped over the bar by Little Oakley goalkeeper Billy Lawlor.

Most of the noteworthy action in the first half was around the Boro goal. Noah Asterlind’s shot on the turn in the eleventh minute went over the bar, and ten minutes later, Qamil Dervishaj had to react smartly to make a low save as the ball ricocheted around the Romford penalty area. After 23 minutes a cross from the left was met by Idreess Namisi, whose header went over the bar.

Jake Gordon was involved in Romford’s better first half moments, shooting wide after 34 minutes after David Oweridu had created an opening, and just a minute later, Gordon’s ball out to the right found Brendan Ocran, whose shot flashed across the face of the goal.

Little Oakley were quickly up the other end however, and Dervishaj made two good save in a couple of minutes, shovelling out a shot from the left and then saving well from Darren Mills’s low effort.

If the visitors had dominated first half proceedings, then Romford were the better side after the break but too many passes were narrowly off-target or were intercepted and the Little Oakley defence blocked any meaningful shooting opportunities that Romford created.

So light on clear cut chances was the second half that it wasn’t until Toheeb Elegushi’s 70th minute cross was deflected for a corner following a strong run by the Boro player that there was anything to make note of. David Oweridu had a shot pushed out by Lawlor after 74 minutes and from the loose ball, Praise Ogbebor set up Brendan Ocran for a shot that again, Lawlor diverted away, but in truth neither side looked likely to break the dead-lock with the ninety minutes ending goal-less.

The shoot-out saw one Little Oakley penalty saved, but two Boro penalties stopped by Lawlor to give the visitors the slimmest of victories.

Penalty shoot out;

Romford first:
Arnold Mengi, Brendan Ocran (both scored), Jaiden Babalola (saved), Hafeez Elegushi, Toheeb Elegushi, David Oweridu (scored), Sam Elwood (saved)

Little Oakley:
Daniel Rowe, Bobby Badham, Adrian Cant, Lewis Wood (all scored), Darren Mills (saved), Jordi Papple, Connor Tucker (both scored)

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Nathan Fuma (Toheeb Elegushi), Sam Elwood, Hafeez Elegushi, Harry Elsey, Ellis Ashworth (Jaiden Babalola 46'), Brendan Ocran, Arnold Mengi, Brian Moses (Lewis Gardener 58'), Jake Gordon (Praise Ogbebor 57'), David Owiredu