Romford lost their opening game of the season despite new club captain Jack Barry give Boro the lead in the first half on a very hot day at Ship Lane.

Romford created their first chance of the game on three minutes when a long ball over the top was pounced on by new striker Lewis FRANCIS but his lob come shot went just wide. A minute later and the same player raced onto another ball but this time the shot ended up well wide.

Redbridge has their first chance when a poor clearence by Michael GOOCH ended up at the feet of Asamoah forty yards out but the strikers first time effort went wide of the empty goal. Boro full bak David OTTLEY picked the ball up on the right wing on eight minutes and after cutting in, his left foot shot curled agonisingly wide.

On fifteen minutes Romford deservedly took the lead when from the left wing Bobby PORT curled in a great free kick and Jack BARRY headed home from eight yards.

Minutes later and Redbridge nearly equalised when a long cross was headed inches wide by Nzuraba. With the game being played and a slow pace due to the energy sapping sun Romford did well keeping possession and creating chances with Jack BARRY heading wide and substitute Chris SULLIVAN for a save from keeper Bowditch after a mazey run but Redbridge had the best chance of the game when Nzuraba broke the Romford offside trap and looked destined to score but Michael GOOCH produced a brilliant save.

Redbridge came out much stronger in the second half and forced Michael GOOCH into straight away and their early pressure paid off when Nzuraba strong run and cut back from the left wing evaded the Romford defence and Muwanga drilled in a low shot into the bottom corner.

Romford once again too over possession and both Michael SAMMUT and Lewis FRANCIS went close from good Romford crosses and Joe TURNER also shot wide.

On sixty five minutes a Redbridge player saw the Romford keeper off his line and shot from sixty yards but the back peddling Michael GOOCH produced a fine save but the keeper took a nasty blow to the head when he collieded with the post. After a lengthy stoppage the keeper was able to continue but only for a short while and Elliott ANDERSON came on.

With four minutes to go Romford kept probing for the winner and substitute Hussein ISA nearly found it when his curling right footed shot was tipped round the post after good work from Joe TURNER but from the resulting corner Redbridge produced a fine counter attack and after the ball fell to Muwanga the winger produced a fine bit of skill and slotted the ball past the Boro keeper.

Romford through everything at Redbridge and debutant Billy RADLEY hit the bar with a header but even with the help of nine minutes of injury time Romford could not find the equaliser.

Report courtesy of www.romfordfc.com