Woodford Town (0) 1, Romford (0) 0 – Essex Senior League - Friday 17th January 2025

A speculative, last minute, long range shot from Woodford Town’s Georges Kebi that found the top corner of Jake Anderson’s net was all that separated the sides on a night in which defences dominated and in which Boro deserved a point.

The Romford line up included new signing Harry Brown plus the returning Charlie Morris and Jake Anderson and Boro more than matched their hosts who had lost just once in their previous twelve games. All Boro’s new or returning players acquitted themselves well although there was limited service to Boro’s new striker Brown.

There was little to choose between the sides in this game, played at a ground where sightlines make it difficult for spectators to form a view of what is actually happening more than 20 yards distant, but in the early stages it seemed that the home side were moving the ball with more purpose and in just the third minute a home player fired a shot over the Romford crossbar.

Your correspondent’s view of the first half. Hopefully this will in part explain the lack of detailed narrative describing this game!

After twelve minutes Woodford’s Sam Owusu had a shot that Jake Anderson pushed away but Romford retaliated with a good run by Praise Ogbebor that won a corner after sixteen minutes.

Woodford’s Micah Jackson shot over the bar after 20 minutes and then Scott Doe was cautioned for a foul after 29 minutes in what was becoming an increasingly non-descript first half. Just a minute after Doe’s booking, Toheeb Elegushi shot narrowly wide of the Woodford goal, but neither side were creating clear cut chances with most of the play confined to midfield.

Two minutes before the break a good combination between Jake Gordon and Harry Brown forced Woodford goal keeper Agboola into a save that earned Boro a corner but nothing ensued from the flag kick.

Romford were marginally the better side in the second half and they opened proceedings, creating an opening with a ball from the right by Charlie Morris in the 51st minute that found Praise Ogbebor via a Woodford defender’s miss-kick, but the Boro forward shot wide. Ellis Ashworth fired in a shot that cleared the Woodford bar after 56 minutes after Jake Gordon’s corner had been headed on to him, while Sheri Artmeladze shot narrowly wide just minutes after being introduced as a substitute for Harry Brown.

Boro’s best chance of the game fell to Artmeladze after 70 minutes when the Boro forward struck a low shot that cannoned off Agboola’s left hand post.

Romford continued to create the better chances as the second half progressed and after retrieving possession in the right, Jaiden Babalola delivered an excellent cross that Charlie Morris headed only just over the bar.

In the penultimate minute, Sheri Artmeladze found himself in space but over elaborated and shot wide only for the home side, who had until then rarely threatened, to go down the other end and win the game with a shot from outside the box.

A draw would have been a more fitting outcome in this game, but sometimes matches are won by a fluke, a stroke of luck, or a moment of brilliance. Watch the YouTube video uploaded by Ashley Hanson of Woodford’s goal and make your own mind up which of those it was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV8K5DJzQ8U&t=24s

Romford: Jake Anderson, Charlie Morris, Isioma Richard, Hafeez Elegushi (Arnold Mengi, 77m), Ellis Ashworth (Harry Elsey, 62m), Scott Doe, Toheeb Elegushi, Jake Gordon (Jaiden Babalola, 62m), Brian Moses, Harry Brown (Sheri Armeladze, 62m), Praise Ogbebor. Unused sub: Sam Ellwood