ROMFORD boss Dan Spinks immediately switched his focus to a vital top-of-the-table clash after his side were knocked out of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy.

Third-placed Boro visit Sporting Bengal United - who are fourth and just two points below them in the Essex Senior League standings - on Saturday.

Romford have a game in hand on their hosts and will be aiming to maintain their winning league form, following a 4-3 victory over West Essex, last weekend.

Spinks wants his side to bounce back immediately from their disappointing midweek cup exit at the hands of FC Clacton.

Despite a first-half hat-trick by Hassan Nalbant – his third of the season – Romford went out of the competition to the Seasiders for the second successive season.

After the sides had shared six goals in 36 first-half minutes, it was a surprise that there should only be one further goal in the second half.

However, had Boro converted any of the numerous chances, the scoreline could have been very different.

"I was very disappointed," said Spinks.

"It wasn't us and I thought we were off it, five or ten per cent.

"Don't get me wrong, it's a horrible place to go on a Tuesday night - it's hard for people to get there with work commitments coming from London and so on.

"I don't want to make excuses but you always start on the back foot. But we started very, very slowly and were lucky to be 3-3 at half-time, to be honest.

"We were slightly better in the second half and probably in the end, you would say we didn't deserve to lose in the second half.

"But there are no qualms about the result from me, as I think they deserved it and good luck to them.

"We've got other things to carry on with and good things still to play for."

Despite their Trophy exit in midweek, Romford will head into their clash with Sporting Bengal in good heart.

The 4-3 triumph over West Essex trimmed second-placed Woodford Town’s advantage to three points, with Boro having played one game less.

Darren Phillips pounced to score what proved to be the winner with his first Romford goal, just a minute after coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Finlay Dorrell.

Goals from Dorrell, Nalbant (2) had left the game delicately poised at 3-3, before Phillips struck.