Debut double for Skidmore at Sudbury

Romford boss Paul Martin was delighted with the impact made by new loan signing Ellis Skidmore at the weekend.

Skidmore, having joined late last week from Concord, netted twice in the first seven minutes of his debut at Sudbury.

And, although the home side hit back to earn a point from a 2-2 draw, Martin was pleased.

He said: “Someone mentioned Ellis wasn’t getting games at Concord and had been on loan at Great Wakering. He did quite well at Redbridge last year and we had a chance to sign him on a 28-day loan.

He got a little twinge in the warm-up but his first goal was a blinder. We just cleared our lines and he took one touch on his knee and volleyed it into the top corner from about 25 yards.”

Martin also gave a debut to Kane Messenger, as a 65th-minute replacement for Jack Barry, and added: “I took a gamble to sign Kane and hopefully we can give him a start in non-league football.

“He’s been playing in the Romford & District League but we were so short in attack, with Chris Richardson and Adrian Clifton away, that it was worth having a look.

“Normally I would have the hump at throwing a 2-0 lead away, but Sudbury are one of the strongest sides we’ve played this season and we would’ve been happy with a point beforehand.”