Hackney Wick 0, Romford 3

Romford picked up maximum points on the road for the first time since the opening day of the season with a three-goal win at Hackney Wick.

Jaxon Brown ran onto Ben Sargent’s first minute pass but was denied a goal as his shot was beaten out by Hackney keeper Deniz Aytac, but it wasn’t long before Boro were ahead. Brown was brought down just outside the Hackney penalty area and Aron Gordon stepped up to place the free-kick inside Aytac’s right-hand post for his first goal in a Romford shirt.

Brown had the ball into the net again after 21 minutes when Chris John played the ball back into the Hackney penalty area after the home side had only partially cleared a corner, but Boro’s celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Brown then had an overhead kick tipped over the bar by Aytac as Boro pressed for a second goal, but Hackney Wick belied their position near the foot of the Essex Senior League table by pressing for an equaliser, and twice they came mightily close. After 11 minutes George Sapsford’s punch from a left-wing corner did not get enough distance and the Romford defence had to work hard to clear. Hackney’s best chance came after 26 minutes. John made an excellent tackle in his own penalty area, but the ball ran wide on the right, was chipped back in and Nicholas Afriyie-Barwuah headed just over the crossbar.

Romford created a couple of good openings for Brown in the opening minutes of the second half, and with the second, he doubled Boro’s lead. Brown was put through on the left after 56 minutes, but from a tight angle he could only shoot across goal and wide, but he found the net after 59 minutes. Gordon put Brown through on the right and he evaded Aytac’s challenge as the keeper came out of his area and passed into an unguarded net.

Hackney came close to pulling one back after 61 minutes when a cross from the left was swept against the bar with the rebound being slammed over, but Boro made the game safe after 71 minutes. Teddy Desmond’s quick throw found Gordon and after he had beaten his full-back and got to the goal-line, he pulled the ball back for Zielinski to score from 12 yards.

Passing football was difficult on an uneven surface at Spa Road and both sides wisely opted to get the ball forward quickly and at every opportunity with Hackney giving as good as they got, but Romford’s superior firepower won the day.

Boro now have a rare blank midweek before facing Frenford at Mayesbrook Park on Saturday 14 November.

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