Romford (1) 1 Hammond 9
Haringey Borough (0) 1 McDonald 83
Attendance: 115
Played at Thurrock FC
Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.00
Mileage: 68/3,819
On a cold evening, Romford rock bottom of Bostik North, fought a sterling rearguard effort to frustrate a Haringey Borough side that sit presently in one of the two promotion places.
With a little bit of laziness combined with writer's cramp, I have taken the liberty of using timmy tabby's excellent report from Tony Kempster's site:
An enjoyable evening also and an outcome most certainly not envisaged at the start of proceedings....
Prior to the start of proceedings, both teams lined up in perfect formation to honour the fallen, an occasion that was honourably conducted and was quite poignant.
Also good to see a contest in these parts that had minimal amounts of mutual antagonism, I like to think that both teams were on their best behaviour to honour the 500th match in charge of Romford for Paul Martin in these days when managers are dispensed with far too readily and then the new incumbent does not improve the situation the mutual loyalty between manager and club is one that is rarely seen.
Excellent contest assisted along with what was one of the best defensive displays seen from a bottom of the table team which clearly made even the obtaining of a single point for the visitors to maintain their unbeaten league record a very difficult task. Romford took a surprise early lead as a punt forward grazed backwards off of Yiga's head into the path of Hammond who read the situation perfectly and slipped a shot under Pajetat.
In response, Haringey dominated the remainder of the half, however at times their passing was not of the standard seen from them earlier in the season plus they often lacked the imagination required to try and break down a packed shoal of a defence. What chances Haringey created, fell into two categories. Firstly, the opportunities that really should have been converted namely from McDonald angling a clear header wide when almost completely unmarked in front of goal and also when Ademiluyi was sent clear on the right, but he took possession several steps too far and ended up shooting straight at the advancing Reynolds,
In the second category came those created chances where luck deserted as they struck the woodwork twice including an excellent drive from Richards which caused some reverberation. Stephen Reynolds in the Romford goal made some excellent saves as well including two in very quick succession, however at half time and given the nature of the first half, there were huge doubts as to whether the hosts would hold onto their surprise advantage.
Strangely, though as the second half progressed, the possibility of the hosts clinging on increased, There was far less in the way of possession for the visitors, who although had a growing number of corners did not create much in the way of opportunities. In fact if Djalo had more in the way of support than he actually had as he broke forward, we could have been looking at the hosts doubling their advantage. In the end he had little option to go alone and he shot straight at Pajetat.
The majority of Haringey's decreasing number of attacks foundered against a surprisingly resolute Romford defence in which both Cossington and Finneran were seemingly impregnable. They had one narrow escape when after a rare lapse from Reynolds, a loose ball ran into the path of Fenton, however he slipped as he was lining up his shot and Cossington was on hand to clear off the line.
Given that the hosts defended so well, it was unfortunate that they conceded, however it was one of those scenario's given that the visitors had so much of the play and the vast majority of the chances that it would be cruel to deny them a share of the points. Finally with 7 minutes left Richards pulled a low cross back from the by line and it was a simple task for McDonald to atone for his earlier miss and side foot into a gaping net from close range. Clear on seeing Haringey this season that at current level they are a more than competent team, however clear on this occasion that the absence of Gabriel and Aristidou had a detrimental effect,
First seriously chilly evening of the season and the plunge in temperature was most noticeable during he course of proceedings.
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