Loss against leaders leaves a mark

Romford manager Paul Martin is still coming to terms with his side’s 3-2 defeat at Ryman One North leaders Leiston.

Michael Brothers took advantage of a poor Boro start to net a 22-minute hat-trick in sunny Suffolk.

But Kurt Smith hit back with a quickfire double in the second half and Andy Edmunds almost snatched a late leveller.

Martin moaned: “You can’t give teams a 3-0 lead, especially teams who are in-form and top of the league.

“We said to the boys we should be confident as we’re playing good football, but we had a bad 20 minutes and it cost us dearly.

“They shouldn’t need a rollicking at half-time, but the response was strong and we gave the supporters who travelled up there something to remember in the second half.

“But as a manager I can’t be pleased, because we didn’t get a point from it.”

Boro are due to host Waltham Forest on Saturday, before visiting Brentwood in a rearranged derby on Tuesday.

Jamie Dicks is available after a three-match suspension, but captain Paul Clayton may miss out after celebrating the birth of his daughter this week.

Martin added: “There’s been a lot of shuffling lately. We’ll see what their fitness levels are like and Clayts might have another weekend off after just having a baby. That’s another little Romford fan out there!”