Boro boss hopes to avoid postponement

Romford boss Paul Martin is hoping his side’s Ryman One North clash at Witham beats the weather tomorrow (Saturday).

Boro bounced back from a goal down to beat Aveley last weekend, whose midweek trip to Witham fell victim to a frozen pitch.

With milder weather, and rain, being forecast pitches are now in danger of being waterlogged but Martin is desperate to keep playing.

He said: “When we have a break we start dropping points as we only train once a week on Mondays.

“We’re four points off the play-offs with a game in hand and if we can start in that margin by the end of January, we can push for the play-offs.

“But it’s tight and if you drop two or three games, there’s only six points between about 12 teams.”

Witham battled to a draw against Grays at Romford’s former home, Rush Green, last weekend and are just above Martin’s men in the table.

He added: “Witham have got a decent little budget and I know Gary (Kimble) really well. We had a few discussions in pre-season and they’ve found their feet and a good balance of players.

“But everyone is beating one another and you can’t guarantee what results are going to be.

“Soham lost 6-3 at Brentwood, after beating Heybridge 8-2, Redbridge won 4-1 at Wroxham and Ware beat a good Waltham Forest side.

“If we turn up, we can get a result. We did last Saturday.”

Billy Hunt’s first goal for the club cancelled out Petrit Elbi’s opener, before Matt Toms headed a second-half winner.

It was the defender’s second goal in two games, following his effort in the Essex Senior Cup tie against Barking.

Martin added: “It was nice to see Matt Toms score again. You need goals from all around the park, you can’t keep relying on forwards.

“Jack Barry did it earlier in the season.”

Joe Oates will be out for another two to three weeks with a back injury, but full-back George Woodward has signed from Bowers and could go straight into the squad.

Elliot Long faces another month on the sidelines after breaking down in a friendly at Billericay on Monday, but Martin added: “I’ve got the pick of the reserves as they’ve got no fixtures now.”

Romford’s New Year’s Day fixture against Grays at Rush Green has been put back to Wednesday January 2 with a 7.45pm kick-off.