Romford (1) 3, Takeley (1) 1 – Essex Senior League – Friday 3rd January 2025

Visitors Takeley had two players sent off in the aftermath of Jake Gordon’s stoppage time goal as Boro warmed the hearts of the fans on a cold night in Barking with a win in the opening game of 2025.

Boro led 2-1 as the game entered stoppage time and Takeley threw men forward in search of an equaliser. Kaiden Imbert Thomas launched one of his innumerable long throws into the Boro penalty area with goalkeeper James Bransgrove having joined the fray, but Boro cleared and when Takeley’s last man Cobey Miles failed to control the ball when it was cleared, Toheeb Elegushi stole possession and fed Jake Gordon who strode forward and passed the ball into an empty net. Takeley called foul, referee Tony King was unmoved and red carded Miles and his team mate Lewis Powell for the abuse they directed at him.

It was a dramatic end to a game that was enthralling without ever being thrilling. In the early stages both teams passed the ball well in midfield but were unable to contrive any worthwhile chances. The first threat on either goal came after seven minutes when Qamil Dervishaj made a low save as Takeley pressed from a corner on the right. Takeley’s Jordan Wescott then ended a good run with a feeble shot that dribbled wide of the post after twelve minutes, but it was Boro who drew first blood after twenty minutes.

Isioma Richard initially miscontrolled Praise Ogbebor’s pass but retained possession and sent over a low cross that Kennedy Feyi converted from close range. Boro went close to a second after 33 minutes; Feyi’s shot from a low cross was blocked to win a corner and from Ash Siddik’s flag kick, Brian Moses headed over the bar.

Four minutes from the break, Romford scrambled clear after Dervishaj had not been able to deal decisively enough with a corner, but in the last minute of the half, the visitors levelled the scores. It came from yet another long throw from Imbert Thomas. This one was flicked on by George Powell and Alfie Attrill popped up at the far post to prod the ball home.

Ten minutes into the second half, and Boro regained the lead. Brian Moses knocked the ball down to Kennedy Feyi, whose shot was blocked, winning Boro a corner. Siddik’s delivery from the right eluded everyone until it reached Feyi at the far post and Boro’s leading scorer had the easiest of tasks to head home.

Takeley missed a golden opportunity to level the scores after 67 minutes in a similar incident, contriving to put the ball wide from a corner on the left when the ball had evaded everyone on its way through.

Romford twice went close to increasing their lead: After 73 minutes Praise Ogbebor won a corner with a shot that was deflected wide and from which Scott Doe shot narrowly over, having won possession on the edge of the six-yard box. Then, five minutes later, Isioma Richard cut in from the left and fired in a shot that was only just too high.

Takeley’s press for an equaliser forced a scrambled clearance from Romford with five minutes remaining, and with the ball running loose in the penalty area, Dervishaj made a vital diving save.

Jake Gordon, having been introduced as a substitute for Brian Moses after 62 minutes, became the second Boro player booked for a foul (Isioma Richard had been the first) after 89 minutes, but he capped a typically dynamic performance with Romford’s decisive third goal.

After two disappointing away losses, this was a well deserved return to winning ways for Boro against a team who had not tasted defeat in their previous ten outings.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Isioma Richard, Lisandro Cassandra (Andy Morris 76'), Jaiden Babalola, Scott Doe, Harry Elsey, Toheeb Elegushi, Ashaan Siddik, Kennedy Feyi (Arnold Mengi 84'), Brian Moses (Jake Gordon 62'), Praise Ogbebor. Unused subs: Nathan Fuma, Hafeez Elegushi