Romford manager Paul Martin confronts the match officials at half-time at Maldon (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)

Martin reflects on postponement

Romford boss Paul Martin tried to look for the positives after hearing tonight’s Ryman Division One North clash with Aveley had been postponed.

Boro were due to make the trip to Mill Field, having battled to a 1-1 draw at table-topping Maldon on Saturday.

But the pitch failed a 3pm inspection and the two sides will try again on Wednesday.

Martin said: “It gives us a bit of a breather until Wednesday, but the weather’s not meant to be any better is it?

“The quicker the games come, the better, but I’m not fussed. We’ll go and give it a go on Wednesday.”

Boro certainly gave it a go at Maldon, with Paul Clayton heading them into an early lead.

Ollie Berquez levelled on the stroke of half time, though, and that was how it remained as Boro extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

Martin added: “I was pleased, but disappointed we didn’t take three points.

“We had the better chances, although they hit the woodwork twice, and it was quite entertaining, played in the right manner.

“Clayts had a good late chance and said he should’ve scored but we’ve won two and drawn two of our last four away so we can’t complain.”

Martin was somewhat aggrieved, though, by the Maldon equaliser and felt his side should have had a penalty before the break.

“I questioned the referee at half time because we put a great ball in for Nick Reynolds and there was a blatant shoulder barge on him.

“For their goal, the player jumped into Atu (Ngoy) who palmed it down, but it was the foul after that as he went to gather it again.

“We had six players in the box and they only had two, but the ball fell to the wrong person and he poked it in.”

Boro shook off the disappointment of conceding to earn a point and Martin praised captain Jack Barry, who was making his 150th appearance for the club.

“For a 21-year-old to make 150 appearances at this level is phenomenal,” he said.

“He was fantastic on Saturday and it’s a great effort. It’s been a good month for us and we want to keep going.

“Joe Oates has come back and steadied it up at left-back and Jamie Dicks might’ve found a new position in central midfield, while Tyler Christian-Law is a good ball player and balances it.

“It will be a hard task to beat our points total from last season. I think we need to win six out of 11 to achieve it.

“But we could finish higher so it’s a strange one. Teams are all beating one another.”