Romford players celebrate their third goal against Brentwood (Gavin Ellis/TGS)

Ryman 1N: Romford 3 Brentwood 4

Romford snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a stunning finale at Ship Lane last night.

Having fallen to an injury-time defeat against Grays at their former Rush Green home a week earlier, Paul Martin’s men conceded twice in stoppage time to gift the visitors victory.

Boro had seen Chatham score three times in the last nine minutes to inflict a 5-0 defeat upon them at the weekend.

And, after the pitch passed a 5.30pm inspection, they fell behind on 18 minutes when Brentwood striker Alex Read netted against his former club.

Boro got themselves back on terms on the half-hour mark, though, when a Lewis Francis cross deceived goalie Reece Ottley and came back off the far post for Kurt Smith to bundle home his first goal since returning from Premier Division East Thurrock.

But Ryan Doyle’s free-kick found a way through to beat Atu Ngoy five minutes before half-time and restore Brentwood’s advantage.

It was all square once again on the hour when Boro captain Jack Barry fired home a left-footed drive and the hosts took the lead seven minutes from time when Doyle headed a Ben Jones free-kick into his own net.

But a mistake at the back allowed Steve Butterworth to run through and bring Brentwood level in the second minute of injury time.

And, to rub salt into their wounds, Boro saw Reed fire home a free-kick from the edge of the box two minutes later to leave them with nothing to show for their efforts.

It meant a sixth league defeat in seven outings for Martin’s men, who dropped to 15th in the table, and they will look to bounce back against lowly Ware on Saturday before their trip to Waltham Abbey next Tuesday.