Match Report, 23rd March 2024, Romford 2 v Coggeshall Town 0.
Essex Senior League, Premier Division.

On a bumpy pitch, almost as bad as Halstead’s last week, Coggeshall kicked off with the strong blustery wind at their backs, but it was Romford that mounted the first attack, as Hassan Nalbant headed over the advancing Dev Bhamra, but a defender cleared to safety. Romford had another good chance soon after as Sam Deering and Nalbant set up a shooting chance for Michael Bakare, but a superb save from Bhamra denied him, and Bhamra comfortably held onto Deering’s resultant corner.
Jake Anderson, in the Romford goal, saved at the feet of Roy Stevens, and cleared a through ball from Lester Ward, beating Roy Stevens to the ball. Romford put pressure on Coggeshall’s defence as efforts from Nalbant, Deering, Charlie Morris, Bakare and ex Seedgrower, Ash Siddik were thwarted.
Towards the end of the half, Coggeshall had Reggie Gregory shoot over the bar, and then wide of the target, Alfie Gilbey sky his shot and Kyan Gulliverput his effort wide.

Half time: Romford 0 Coggeshall Town 0

Romford started the half strong as Bhamra was soon in action, making saves from Bakare and Deering. Stevens beat Anderson with a stinging shot that went off the bar for a goal kick, and Ward ran out of pitch in trying to get a cross in. Deering was fouled on the edge of the Coggeshall penalty area and Bakare’s free kick bent round the wall and wide of the goal. Jamie Hursit was shown a yellow card for a foul on Gregory, but Romford soon gained possession from Coggeshall’s free kick and broke quickly through Deering leaving two Coggeshall defenders facing four Romford forwards and somehow Bakare’s shot was blocked. He was then shown a yellow card following a needless foul. Gregory tried to set up Ward, but he was deemed to be offside, and Stevens who saw his cross wasted as there was no one in the area to latch on to it. With 63 minutes gone, Romford substituted Siddik and Toheed Elegushi for Kris Newby and Amaree Robinson-Jones, and this appeared to give them a boost, as Bakare fired over the bar. Deering shot wide from Morris’s cross and Nalbant headed straight to Bhamra from Deering’s cross.

The deadlock was broken seventeen minutes from time, as Deering tapped home at the far post a Romford throw in by Morris, which was flicked on by Darren Phillips. With ten minutes remaining, both teams made a substitution, Coggeshall swopping Finn Wilkes for Lewis Francis. Bhamra saved a dangerous Romford cross by Jamie Hursit and at the other end, Anderson saved a Gregory effort. With time up on the clock, Coggeshall took off Jack Hauser and brought on Ross Elsom. Two minutes into stoppage time Bakare cut through the Coggeshall defence and lifted the ball over Bhamra to give Romford their second goal. Romford’s Robinson-Jones put his shot well over the bar and soon after won a corner, which was not taken as the referee blew for time.

A quote from Pedro’s Football Fix report of the match reads ‘It’s almost certain that Coggeshall will now end the season bottom and in Step 6 next season, they battled so hard today and probably deserved something from the game, but that’s been the story of their season, hopefully they can rebuild and come back stronger from this season. It’s certainly been a tough one for them.’

Full time: Romford 2 Coggeshall Town 0.
Attendance 220
(This is Romford’s report, with permission of Mike Woods).