Romford (1), Ilford (1) – Tuesday 26th November 2024 – Essex Senior League

Having lost three home games on the trot, the last thing that Romford wanted was to concede an early goal, but after just three minutes, that was the position Boro were in.

After a succession of backward and sideways passes, Boro found themselves hemmed in at their own corner flag and when possession was lost, Qamil Dervishaj had to parry a shot from ex-Boro favourite, Greg Akpele. The respite was brief however, as the ball fell to Akpele’s team-mate Ahmed Dousa, who crashed the ball home.

Ilford might have doubled their lead after six minutes when Michael Okafor hit a cracking drive from outside the box that beat Dervishaj but rattled the crossbar. The opening stages were all Ilford with Romford struggling to get out of their own half, but on the first occasion that they did so after 17 minutes, debut making Sonny Dutton put Ken Feyi through, but Ilford keeper Wilkinson Boateng stretched to divert the ball away for a corner.

Dutton went mightily close to an equaliser after 28 minutes when his shot hit the base of an upright and shortly afterwards, Joe Paxman forced Boateng into a diving save with a curling shot. Ilford still looked the more dangerous side however, and the back-pedalling Dervishaj was relieved to see a cross from the left cannon of the top of his crossbar.

Dervishaj saved Boro after 38 minutes, coming out to block when Abdul Shobowale met a low cross from the left, but his opposite number Boateng was in action shortly after, tipping a free-kick from Arnold Mengi over the crossbar.

Three minutes from the end of the half, Boro levelled. A corner from the right was headed clear but only as far as Joe Paxman and his low shot took a deflection and fell kindly for Derek Feyi to ram the ball home.

Boro were then handed a huge slice of good fortune as Akpele went down in the box under a challenge from Dervishaj in the second minute off added time at the end of the first half, but despite Ilford’s appeals, referee Alan Steward awarded a goal-kick rather than a penalty after consulting his assistant.

Romford opened the second half with Dutton’s ball in from the left being met by Ken Feyi, but his effort was deflected wide while at the other end Isioma Richard made a vital intercept after Akpele’s through ball had put his team-mate in on goal.

Just before the hour mark Ilford keeper Boateng turned away a shot from Boro substitute Brendan Ocran but Ilford continued to threaten with Akpele in the centre and Jabir Adam on the left looking particularly dangerous.

Akpele had two decent chances to score, shooting wide after 64 minutes and going closer still with an overhead kick after 78 minutes and then in the 83rd minute Dervishaj made a double save, first keeping out a low shot from Sonfechi Ukonu and then beating away a follow up shot as the ball ran loose.

Despite their lowly position, Ilford proved – as they had when the sides met earlier in the season – to be difficult opponents and had they had more fortune in front of goal, Boro might have suffered a fourth straight home defeat.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Joe Paxman, Isioma Richard, Ashaan Siddik, Harry Elsey, Derek Feyi, Toheeb Elegushi (Brendan Ocran 60'), Jaiden Babalola (Amaree Robinson-Jones 60'), Kennedy Feyi, Arnold Mengi (Lucas Polyblank 81'), Sonny Dutton (Kelvin Boampong 72') Unused sub: Andy Morris