Romford v Chelmsford FA Cup Match Preview

Chelmsford City turn their focus towards the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday, 1st October when they take on Essex Senior League outfit Romford FC in the 3rd Qualfiying Round.

Chelmsford are unbeaten in their last 4 games, with only 1 goal conceded in those matches but were not on their best form despite notching a late winner away to Farnborough on Tuesday night which extended their unbeaten run of form to 5 on the road, with only 1 goal conceded, and that a 25 yard strike by Welling’s Taylor Maloney. The Clarets have only played 1 game in the world’s oldest cup competition so far this season, but that was a 6-1 thumping of Southern League Premier side Kings Langley with Simeon Jackson scoring a hat-trick, Jamie Yila getting 2 and Khale Da Costa the other.

The opposition

Romford sit in 7th place in the Essex Senior League, 3 levels below Chelmsford after The Boro’s relegation from the Isthmian North last season. However, they have only played 5 league games due to progress in various cup competitions. Romford started their journey in this season’s competition on 6th August when they defeated Saffron Walden 5-2 in the Extra Preliminary Round. They then beat fellow Essex Senior League Side Takeley after a replay, then they defeated Isthmian North side Hashtag United, and then Isthmian Premier side Potters Bar away from home 2-1, so the match against Chelmsford will be their 6th in the competition so far this season. They have also progressed past two rounds of the FA Vase as well. In fact Romford have only lost once this season so far, and that was a home defeat to Redbridge.

In terms of players, Romford have a number of familiar faces and a couple of former Clarets. In defence they have former Dagenham & Redbridge, Boreham Wood & Dover player Scott Doe. Doe, now 33, made over 300 appearances for the Daggers, mainly in League Two and has made an appearance for the England C team. They also have former Bishop’s Stortford, East Thurrock and Braintree defender George Allen. In midfield, they have former Hornchurch, Stortford and Billericay enforcer Tambeson Eyong as well as well travelled playmaker Kris Newby. Newby played a part in a memorable FA Cup tie 10 years ago involving Chelmsford. He scored in both legs for East Thurrock against the Clarets in 2012, including a 121st minute equaliser to take the tie to penalties in the replay, but he was the man who blazed his penalty over the bar to see the Clarets through to play Colchester United in the 1st round and the rest was history. Up front they have a couple of ex Clarets in Jake Gordon and Lewis Smith but their goals have come from the strike duo of Charlie Morris who has 7 this season and Emmanuel Robe who has 6.

Romford’s boss is former Great Wakering manager and player Steve Butterworth who took over in the summer following their relegation.

Previous Meetings

The tie has jogged some memories of older Claret fans as it brings back their reminisces of the time when both clubs were jostling in the Southern League together. The following is taken from the Romford FC match preview:

Between 1960, when Romford were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division, and 1978, when the club folded, Boro and City met regularly, often playing in front of crowds in excess of 4,000. In FA Cup ties, the teams have met on five occasions, the results being:

1953-54 1st Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 3, Romford 2
1956-57 2nd Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 4, Romford 0
1962-63 4th Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 2, Romford 0
1963-64 4th Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 2, Romford 0
1965-66 4th Qualifying Round: Romford 2, Chelmsford City 1  

That last game has gone down in folklore as Romford were forced to field skipper and inside forward Brian Kelly in goal, and his heroic – if sometimes unorthodox – goalkeeping inspired Boro’s victory, with both goals scored by Harry Obeney.

The last time the clubs met was on 18th Match 1978, in a Southern League Division One South game. The crowd was 450 and Romford won 2-0 courtesy of two Ian Hamilton goals (one a penalty). That game was played at Mayesbrook Park as Boro’s nomadic final season wound towards its conclusion.

Team News

Chelmsford have injuries in the backline with Dave Winfield missing the Farnborough game and Cameron James being subbed off at half-time so City acted to bring Colchester United youngster Frankie Terry on loan, so he could make his debut in the home town of his footballing relatives. Harry Lodovica is managing a back injury but came on to score the winner on Tuesday night so could be used in a similar role. Academy prospects Finn Wilkes and Harry Davison have been called up to the squad and could take their place on a 7 man bench.

Ticket News

Where to follow the game…

The Club will be only providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.

There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.

Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.

Possible replay details

If the game is a draw after 90 minutes, there will be a replay on Monday 3rd October at Chelmsford City’s Melbourne Stadium, with a 7.30pm kickoff.

How to get there..

Please note Romford groundshare at Barking FC’s stadium Mayesbrook Park. To get there take the A12 into East London to the junction with Whalebone Lane and the Moby Dick pub. From there you can take the A124 Wood Lane to the junction with Lodge Avenue which is where the ground is situated. You can also take the M25 to the junction with the A13 and then come up Lodge Avenue from the South on the A1153.

Please note the Supporters Club Coach is sold out.

Weather

It is set to be a warm day with 19 degrees expected at kickoff despite the game being played on the 1st day of October!