Boro bow out of league cup

Romford 1 Concord Rangers 4

Romford were knocked out of the Ryman League Cup by Premier Division Concord at Ship Lane last night.

Both sides had chances in an entertaining opening, with the visitors going close inside the first minute as Billy Coyne found Jason Hallett unmarked in the box, before Bobby Port’s vital block.

Ryan Imbert was denied by a double sav from Michael Jordan after seven minutes but then won Boro a penalty when he was fouled in the box by John Easterford.

Joe Oates stepped up to take the spot-kick but his poor effort was comfortably saved by Jordan, leaving Romford with just one conversion in their last 11 attempts.

Concord took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Hallett chased a through ball and fired a left foot shot into the top corner.

The visitors, beaten 4-0 at home by Cray Wanderers at the weekend, had the better of the second period and went close to doubling their advantage just before the hour when Michael Gooch denied Danny Spendlove with a superb save.

But the respite was brief for Romford as the resulting corner reached Easterford at the far post to score.

A third goal arrived on 70 minutes when Jerome Walker slotted into a gaping net after unselfish play from Spendlove.

But Boro hit back when Hussein Isa found space on the right and his deep cross reached Joe Turner, who forced a good save from Jordan and saw Imbert head the rebound home for his fifth goal of the campaign.

It proved only a consolation as Concord completed the scoring with a fourth goal 13 minutes from time when Spendlove curled a free-kick past Gooch from 25 yards.

Boro will now turn their focus back on their Ryman One North campaign at Harlow on Saturday, before visiting Redbridge in an Essex Senior Cup tie next Tuesday.