FC Clacton (3) 3, Romford (0) 0 - Tuesday 11th March 2025 – Essex Senior League

Just three days after picking up a well deserved point at high flying Stanway, Boro went from the sublime to the ridiculous in losing at FC Clacton, whose win moved them off the bottom of the table for the first time since late September 2024.

The home side went ahead after just five minutes when Qamil Dervishaj couldn’t hold a well struck free-kick and Luwa Luwabelwa converted the loose ball from close range. Romford failed to recover from this blow and Clacton poured forward in numbers, putting the Boro back line under constant pressure, which resulted in a second goal after 21 minutes when Arthur Brown scored after a move on Clacton’s right had provide him with a shooting opportunity just inside the Boro penalty area.

Clacton were aggressive in possession and tenacious without the ball, never allowing Boro the time to construct any decent moves. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that Boro had a sight of goal; Charlie Morris playing the ball in from the left for Blaise Uwandji, who shot wide. Romford did manage to get the ball in the net, but debut making forward Samson Adelaja’s 29th minute shot from Uwandji’s pass was rightly struck off for offside.

Charlie Morris had a 40th minute shot that Clacton goalkeeper Michael Bett saved at the second attempt, but two minutes before the interval, Clacton netted a third goal from which there could be no Romford recovery. A long cross from the right found Tyrese Miller lurking at the far post and he diverted the ball back across goal, giving Dervishaj no chance.

It was pretty much job done as far as Clacton were concerned and the second half was largely incident free. Arnold Mengi went close to pulling one back for Romford after just three minutes of the second period, but his shot from a decent position cleared the Clacton crossbar. Charlie Morris shot across goal after being found by Adelaja after 57 minutes and that was about that for decent chances at either end, although Clacton’s Cameron Button did have an off-target effort after 76 minutes.

For the most part the second half continued to see Romford well contained by the Clacton defence and pressed hard by the home forwards and midfield to the extent that Boro passes went astray left, right, and centre. The only other significant incident in the second forty-five minutes was a second yellow card for Clacton’s Emmanuel Olagunju for a foul on the half-way line.

Romford are currently riding the crest of a slump (this was Boro’s fourth defeat in the last six league games and the sixth in the last ten) and must pick themselves up with an always tricky trip to Halstead Town next on the agenda.

Romford: Qamil Dervishaj, Lewis Gardener (Harry Markatis 46'), Harry Elsey, Ellis Ashworth, Toheeb Elegushi, Arnold Mengi, David Owiredu (Ivan Imasuen 46'), Sam Brogan (Jayden Silcott-Brown 46'), Samson Adelaja, Blaise Uwandji, Charlie Morris. Unused sub: Kris Newby.