Road to Wembley - Leighton buzzed

Leighton Town were Romford's visitors for the FA Cup 1st qualifying round tie. The team from the Midland division of the Southern League started the game strongly and gave Romford due warning as they broke through the home defence twice early on.

It took Romford 20 minutes to start getting into their stride. First Danny Rafis got the ball across the box but Petrit Elbi was beaten to it but won a corner. Then Elbi went on a jinking run that took him past 3 defenders before the ball was cleared away. But with the half almost up, a long ball found Downer out wide who outstrips a defender and sends in a cross that beats the keeper and finds PETRIT ELBI who just has to side foot our boys into a half time lead.

Leighton were still dangerous as was proved when slack marking allowed a free header that went just wide. 11 minutes into the half a Rafis cross found DANNY DOWNER who hit a sublime shot over the keeper to put Romford 2-0 ahead.

On 63 minutes Elbi won a tussle for the ball then laid the ball back to ANDY OXBY on the edge of the box who crashed in a shot to put the game out of reach of Leighton at 3-0.

Leighton didn't give up however and the final score certainly flattered Romford.

Team: Finn, Neville, Clayton, Maskell, B Turner, Mackin (Hughes), Rafis, Oxby, Pyne (Monksfield), Elbi, and Downer (K Smith).
Subs not used: Gallen, Howe, Martin.
MoM: Mackin
Att: 156

In the 2nd Qualifying Round Romford have a tricky away game at Worthing United, who play two levels higher in the Isthmian Premier. The game will be played next Saturday.