Romford (2) 3, Stansted (0) 0 - Essex Senior League - Saturday 25th January 2025

Three goals, three points, and a clean sheet represent a decent afternoon's work, but Boro ought to have boosted their goal difference with a couple of further goals against second from bottom Stansted.

There was a setback for Boro in just the first minute when Jake Gordon was yellow carded for a foul on the half way line which, no matter how well merited, was at odds with the leniency shown by referee Liam Giles to the Stansted defender who committed two similar fouls, for which he was only reluctantly spoken to by the referee after the second.

Stansted proved doughty but limited opponents, and after they had desperately cleared a good cross by Charlie Morris after 16 minutes, they conceded two minutes later when Scott Doe rose highest to head home a corner from the right.

Stansted had a sight of goal after 29 minutes, but Callum Fitzer - who was their outstanding performer - shot wide. Boro might have doubled their lead after 37 minutes when Harry Brown was well found by Morris's pass, but having cut inside his marker, shot wide. It was only a brief reprieve for the visitors however, as a minute later, Charlie Morris latched onto Wyan Reid's pass and fired a low shot across Stansted keeper Luis Shamshoum and into the far corner of the net.

Good interplay between Morris and Brian Moses created a shooting opportunity for Harry Brown after 41 minutes, but the Boro forward shot wide and then a rare chance for Stansted saw George O'connor shoot wide from the edge of the Boro penalty area.

Fitzer had a scuffed shot comfortably saved by Jake Anderson in the second minute of the second half and a minute later Boro had the ball in the net when Sam Park's shot was beaten out by Shamshoum, but Brown was offside as he converted the loose ball

Brown headed wide from Jake Gordon's cross on the hour and was one of five players substituted a minute later as Boro boss Kris Newby rang the changes.

One of the substitutes, Toheeb Elegushi, set up Brian Moses after 64 minutes, but the Boro forward rolled his shot wide of the post with Shamshoum beaten.

Sheri Artmeladze, another of Boro's subs, put a speculative shot just wide after 65 minutes, but at the other end, Fitzer curled one shot over before skying another effort well over.

Artmeladze turned his defender and put in a shot that was deflected for a corner after 74 minutes, and although the flag kick was part cleared, Moses had a header saved as the ball was played back in by Scott Doe.

Artmeladze then shot over after Amaree Robinson-Jones had seen his shot blocked, but he then netted Boro's third. Andy Morris won the ball on the half way line and laid it off to Scott Doe, whose forward pass found Artmeladze in space and he lofted the ball over the advancing keeper.

Robinson-Jones was twice denied by Stansted defenders who blocked his shots, and Artmeladze also had a defender get in the way of a goalbound effort as Boro finished strongly but were unable to add to their goal tally.

Romford: Jake Anderson, Wyan Reid (Andy Morris 61'), Sam Elwood,
Jake Gordon, Scott Doe, Ellis Ashworth (Shermandin Artmeladze 61'), Charlie Morris (Toheeb Elegushi 61'), Praise Ogbebor, Brian Moses, Harry Brown (Amaree Robinson-Jones 61'),
Sam Park (Ashaan Siddik 61')