Romford boss Dan Spinks happy despite draw at White Ensign

The Boro found themselves 2-0 down in 35 minutes in the Essex Senior League but recovered to claim a 2-2 draw.

And it was that response that delighted the gaffer.

He said: “We started very slowly and there are no excuses for that. We’ve perhaps been a little bit nervous after Tuesday’s game [a 3-2 loss to Frenford].

“At half-time I asked them for a reaction, to see what we are actually made of now things are going against us slightly.

“And I can’t complain because second half we were excellent and should have gone on to win by five or six.

“The attitude was different class and we have something to build upon.

“I came away happy considering we only had a point.”

The opening goal for Ensign came on three minutes, Nathan Wilson getting enough of a touch on a Joshua McFaull free-kick to divert it beyond Jack Dixson, making his debut in the Boro goal after joining on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge.

Their second arrived with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, a punch out by the Daggers’ loanee returned with interest by the head of Robbie Allen.

The keeper did make a smart save in stoppage time to deny McFaull but back that point Romford had a goal back.

Kris Newby floated in a free-kick and Hassan Nalbant headed home.

The second period saw pretty much one-way traffic from the visitors.

A scramble in the home penalty area following a corner nearly drew an equaliser, as did a shot from Nalbant that was deflected over.

A penalty on 71 minutes brought Romford level.

Nalbant’s on-target shot was handled by Mitch Stuart-Evans and he was duly dismissed.

Newby then stepped up to confidently convert the spot-kick.

Unsurprisingly, the man advantage meant even more chances for Boro but none of them would go in.

Newby had a free-kick go wide, a Michael Turner shot was blocked on the line after good work by Ash Siddik on the right, while a Bobby Dailly header from a Lee Hursit cross was narrowly off target.

A Essex Senior Cup clash with Great Wakering Rovers comes tonight but then Romford have an extended period of inactivity after their planned match against Takeley on Saturday was postponed due to an FA Vase fixture.

The break is not something Spinks is too upset about though.

He said: “We’re going to have a day out on Saturday, a little bit of a team bonding event so we’ll see where that ends up.

“And then we will be training Tuesday and Thursday. We haven’t had that many training sessions since the start of the season if I’m honest so it will be good to get us in for a week and go through a few things.

“We’ve had a couple of new signings and so we want to get through patterns of play with them and make sure they are on board.”

Romford’s next action is back in the Essex Senior League on Saturday, September 30, when they go to Halstead  Town.