It was a bad day at the office for Boro, who slipped to a second consecutive home Essex Senior League defeat; last time it was Great Wakering Rovers, this time it was the team who share a ground with them, White Ensign.

The game saw keeper Harry Girling sent off for the second time this season, forcing Andy Morris to take over between the posts for the third time and for the second week in a row. The red card Girling received could not be disputed – he clearly hit a White Ensign player as the teams lined up to face a corner – but it came amid allegations of a particularly unpleasant assault having been perpetrated on him out of sight of the referee.

Girling’s dismissal came towards the end of a first half in which Romford had found it hard to make headway against a well organised White Ensign team. Boro started with a look of nervousness about their play and although chances were created, none forced visiting keeper Bradley Davison to make a save.

Praise Ogbebor had an early shot deflected for a corner which was headed across goal by Derek Feyi for Andy Morris, whose overhead kick hit a post. Toheeb Elegushi then pulled the ball back for Arnold Mengi to strike, but his shot went well over the bar. Kennedy Feyi then hit a shot on the turn that also went over, but despite these chances, Boro’s play was unconvincing.

Morris put a shot over from a difficult chance after Sam Elwood’s corner was headed back by Derek Feyi, but the visitors looked ever dangerous on the break and after 34 minutes they went ahead when Ellis Devereux volleyed home a corner. The set piece had arisen from a quick break by the visitors that saw Devereux through on goal, and having been partially stopped by Morris, was only denied by Girling’s sprawling save.

Following Girling’s dismissal, Andy Morris’s first action was to punch clear a corner with Ensign’s follow up shot blocked, but in the third minute of first half stoppage time the visitors doubled their lead when Riley Weir was put through and he slipped the ball past the advancing Morris.

Two minutes into the second half and Ensign put the game beyond Boro’s reach with a third goal. Devereux was again the scorer when having received the ball just wide of goal, he fired a shot across Morris and into the far corner.

Boro pulled a goal back after 63 minutes through Ken Feyi’s penalty. Substitute David Oweridu ran strongly at the Ensign defence and his flick into the box was handled, allowing Feyi the chance to stoke his spot kick to Davison’s right as the keeper went left.

There were half chances for both sides with desperate Boro defending preventing a fourth goal for the visitors, who also hit a post. Derek Feyi volleyed a free-kick over the bar and at the other end Morris did well to save with his feet.

All in all, the second half was somewhat disjointed with White Ensign happy to commit minor fouls to break up play and Boro unable to break down their defence as their early season form eluded them on a disappointing afternoon.

Romford: Harry Girling, Sam Elwood, Kelvin Boampong (Hafeez Elegushi 58'), Lucas Polyblank (Jaiden Babalola 46'), Andy Morris, Derek Feyi, Toheeb Elegushi, Arnold Mengi (Eli Benoit 46'), Kennedy Feyi, Joe Paxman (David Owiredu 59'), Praise Ogbebor. Unused sub: Amaree Robinson-Jones