Ryman Division 1N: Romford 1 Chatham 0

Hussein Isa’s 56th-minute strike proved enough for Boro to maintain their fine league form at Ship Lane last night.

Isa let fly from 20 yards, following a knock-on from strike partner Nick Reynolds, to seal all three points for Boro.

And Paul Martin’s men were able to defend their slender lead thanks to a fine defensive display, led by captain Jack Barry.

Boro had an early let-off on three minutes as Matt Newman headed narrowly over for the visitors.

And there was another scare for the hosts just before the half hour mark when Garry Tilley got into the box and squared the ball for Lee Hales, who blazed over the crossbar.

Reynolds teed up Isa on 35 minutes, whose low shot was smothered by Tim Roberts. But the pair combined again after the restart in decisive fashion.

The visitors had gone close on 55 minutes when Rodrigue Ndiane’s long throw-in from the right was headed out by Barry and fell to Tilley, who hooked the ball just past Michael Gooch’s right-hand post.

But the ball was cleared upfield and helped on by Reynolds, for Isa to turn and drive home his third goal of the season.

Gooch breathed a sigh of relief midway through the second half when Kevin Watson’s deep cross from the right found Harry Smith unmarked at the far post and the tall striker headed over.

But Boro went close to a second on 73 minutes when Elliot Long’s cross from the left reached the impressive Tom Richardson, whose angled drive was pushed around the post by Roberts.

The home side were mostly content to focus on protecting their lead, though, which they did with steely determination to move back up to seventh place.