Boro now unbeaten in six

Ryman Division 1N

Waltham Abbey 4 Romford 5

Romford came out on top in a nine-goal Ryman Division One North thriller at Capershotts last night.

Victory extended Boro’s unbeaten run to six matches, but the manner of it will not have done manager Paul Martin’s blood pressure any good.

Martin had voiced concerns about his side’s current ability to leak goals and ongoing struggles to hold on to leads – following a 2-2 draw with Cheshunt at the weekend – in the build-up to last night’s encounter.

But he must have been beaming as his side raced into a 4-0 lead inside half an hour.

Young striker Wale Odedoyin opened the scoring in the ninth minute with his second goal of the season, tapping in after a Nick Reynolds shot was blocked, and Abs Seymour doubled Boro’s advantage soon after from Jack Barry’s pass.

A skilful lob from Reynolds made it 3-0 with only 18 minutes played and Barry headed in a Joe Oates cross for the fourth before the half-hour mark.

Tom Laxton and Tim Shaw netted two minutes apart to get Abbey back into the game before half-time.

Barry claimed his second of the night – and fifth of the season – midway through the second half with a low shot from the edge of the box to make it 5-2 and seemingly end the home side’s challenge.

But Shaw grabbed his second, four minutes from time, and Laxton struck again in the final minute as Boro wobbled.

Martin’s men held on for the points, though, to make it six games without defeat heading into their FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Southend Manor this weekend.

Romford’s manager will be hoping for much calmer afternoon against the Essex Senior League leaders, but on this evidence it is unlikely he’ll get it just yet.

Romford: Anderson, Mackin, Kavanagh, Ishmail, Clayton, Seymour, J Barry, Duru, Odedoyin (Smith 75), Reynolds (Richardson 68), Oates (Dicks 78).