Romford Capitalise on Thamesmead’s Indiscipline

Dimarli Morrison-Facer sees Boro come through a testing encounter.

In a feisty encounter at Bayliss Avenue, it was Romford who came out as 2-1 winners.

With only one win in the previous four fixtures, Boro travelled to south-east London with more hope than expectancy, as they looked to put further distant from between themselves and those in the relegation zone.

Slow Start

However, due to adverse weather conditions, both Romford and Thamesmead struggled to play much football in the first half, and it wasn’t until nearly half time before either goalkeeper were tested.

Boro’s Callum Chafer acrobatically parried Paul Vines powerful shot just over the bar, before Romford’s top goal scorer Chinedu McKenzie, had a great chance to put Boro one up after being put through on goal by Chris Taylor. McKenzie’s effort was however saved comfortably by Thamesmead’s goalkeeper.

Romford began the second half on the front foot and opened the scoring seven minutes after the break through McKenzie after Taylor’s whipped cross was glanced home to end McKenzie’s barren spell of no goals in his last six appearances.

Two minutes later McKenzie almost doubled his tally for the afternoon before being grappled from behind. However, the referee played advantage but McKenzie had already lost his balance and could only manage a weak effort at goal.

Turing point

Romford’s lead was fragile but after a few moments of madness midway through the second half, Thamesmead’s chances of finding a way back into the game were significantly reduced.

Firstly, midfielder Leon Smith was dismissed after 56 minutes, after picking up a second bookable offence for kicking the ball out of play. Soon after there was another dismissal. Defender Ellis Green picked up a straight red card for punching Romford’s Kai Bichard in the mouth.

With the numerical advantage and lots of possession, the visitors were in full control, and in 82nd minute made their advantage count as they doubled their lead through midfielder Bichard. A neat one-two with McKenzie saw Bichard race clear through on goal before slipping the ball under the on-rushing goalkeeper.

With a few minutes remaining, a lapse in concentration saw Thamesmead’s skipper and top goal scorer, Paul Vines scored an excellent volley. However, Vines goal was only a consolation as the Boro’s saw the remaining minutes with relative ease.

Romford FC: Callum Chafer, Charlie Grimme-Yexley, Akwasi Marfo, Danny Cossington (C), Ryan Mallet, Jonathan Adebayo, Kai Bichard, (Chris Barry 85), Ayo Olukoga, Chinedu McKenzie, Chris Taylor, Abdeen Abdul

Bookings: Yellow Card – Chinedu McKenz

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