Halstead Town (0) 2, Romford (1) 1 - Saturday 15th March 2025 - Essex Senior League

Another defeat, but a performance that was closer in quality to the display in the draw at Stanway last Saturday than in the midweek defeat at Clacton, with much to draw hope from.

At the back, Ellis Ashworth and Harry Elsey defended stoutly and did not deserve to be on the losing side while Jack Glenister's return to the club added quality to the midfield on his introduction as a second half substitute, and Sansom Adelaja looked dangerous up front and netted his first goal for the club that put Boro ahead after 15 minutes.

Boro had an opportunity in the very first minute when Jayden Silcott-Brown's ball in from the right was held desperately by Halstead keeper Jack Cherry as Prince Manuel Commodore closed in.

Halstead's Joel Older spooned a shot over the bar after five minutes and after ten, Qamil Dervishaj made a good save from a close range effort.

After fifteen minutes, Boro went ahead. Prince Manuel Commodore played the ball in from the left to Charlie Morris, who in turn found Sansom Adelaja, whose shot from outside the box found the net off the underside of the bar.

Robbie Bennett played in a free-kick for the hosts that was narrowly headed over and then Dervishaj went down at his near post to save well from Lester Ward's shot and the Older shot over the bar as the half drew to a conclusion. Between these chances, Prince Manuel Commodore put Jayden Silcott-Brown through, but his shot was blocked.

Silcott-Brown was involved in the first action of the second half, latching on to a cross field pass, but having run strongly, ending with a shot that was high and wide.

Halstead' began to assert themselves and levelled the score after 59 minutes through Alfie Cleal who scored from inside the box after the ball had been played back in from a partial Boro clearance.

Adelaja shot just wide when a Boro corner was only half cleared after 70 minutes, but Halstead went straight up the other end and when a forward went to ground in the box, referee Kadir Nasif pointed to the spot without hesitation. Dervishaj went the right way but Joel Older's spot kick found the net nonetheless.

Boro struggled to make headway against a resolute Halstead defence with the home side creating the only chance of note during the remaining minutes when Older curled a shot over the bar with eleven minutes left after the ball had run loose falling a scramble on the edge of the Romford penalty area.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj,
Arnold Mengi, Nathan Fuma (Harry Markatis 55'), Harry Elsey, Sam Brogan, Ellis Ashworth, Jayden Silcott-Brown (Ross Elsom 69') Blaise Uwandji, Charlie Morris, Samson Adelaja, Prince Manuel Commodore (Jack Glenister 68') Unused sub: David Oweridu