North Romford Vs Colbrook Royals Reserves

08/10/06
North Romford 3 -2 Colbrook
Goals Sutton, James (2)

Line up
GK Stacey
RB Waddy
LB Spicy
CB Keavo
CB Gregg
RM Bosh
CM Kev Nev (c)
CM Jason
LM Clifton
CF James
CF Sutton

It didn’t look good for Romford with 10 minutes to go until kick-off. Only a handful of players had found their new home ground and someone had nicked their kit! Their blue and yellow striped shirts had been carried the length of Clayhall Park by a team that play in all red…cheers boys.

So with 10 minutes to go Colbrook must have been laughing as they did their lengths of the pitch with Romford in disarray. Romford made it to kick off with ten men, Waddy pissed off at having to play the Hollamby role and Sutton forced to play up front on his own. Oh Sutton WAS glad that he had decided to turn up again for North Romford.

Romford started brightly, JJ and Nev bossing the midfield and spraying balls out to the flanks for BOSH and Ross to chase. Romford conceded against the run of play, a miscommunication between the defence and Stace in goal allowing Colbrook to score on the cheap. But Romford dug in, and kept playing their passing game. Ross almost took the keeper’s hand off with a pile-driver and hitting the post from an acute angle. Sutton made a chance form himself only to see it drift wide of the post. But Sutton didn’t have to wait long to score his first goal for Romford after coming out of retirement, a sweetly taken volley from a pin-point Neville cross. Romford enjoyed most of the possession but just couldn’t find the final ball, and Colbrook made them pay. Keavo was forced to bring down their centre forward just outside the box and Colbrook scored direct with the last kick off the half.

Romford were still confident at half time. According to the gaffer they couldn’t be doing any better even if they did have 11 men, possibly the quickest statement ever to be proved wrong. James came on at half-time and immediately scored with his first touch after the re-start, a deft header into the corner of the net. So, didn’t need that eleventh man then eh gaffer? The second half belonged to Romford with Keavo, Spice, Greg and Waddy working their nuts off at the back and the midfield working hard to find the killer pass. When the killer pass did come JJ couldn’t quite convert. But Romford’s hard work paid off when that un-needed eleventh man scored his second of the game, and ultimately the winner. A cool finish from James after being put through by Nev made him top scorer so far this season. Spice and Waddy were in heaven as they meant that they could give James another cuddle.

Romford oozed confidence and looked likely to score from every attack. Their new pitch with grass on allowed them to play their passing game. The team were so confident that they enjoyed some banter with the ref, Waddy asking him if it was someone’s birthday when the ref threatened to get the cards out. The ref had the last laugh though, giving JJ a full pie for his earlier miss.

Romford then nearly wasted all that hard work as Stace picked up a back pass, casual as you like. Romford shouldn’t moan though, if Stace had gone to Warehouse the night before then the gaffer would have had to go in goal. Colbrook wasted the free kick, so Nev decided to give them another go and gave them the ball back just outside Romford’s penalty area causing panic stations in the Romford box. Nothing came of it though and Romford recorded their first win of the season. Romford will hope to continue their unbeaten start to the season as they travel to old rivals May and Bakers next week.

Match Report by
Gavin 'Bosh' Richards.