1st team
Matches
Sat 08 Dec 2018  ·  North Division
Witham Town Football Club
1st team
S Ashford (47' Pen), (57' Pen)
2
0
Romford
TOWN MAKE IT BACK TO BACK WINS

TOWN MAKE IT BACK TO BACK WINS

swifty11 Dec 2018 - 07:01
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BEATING ROMFORD 2.0 AT SPA ROAD

A dominant second half display was enough to give Witham a comfortable victory over a poor Romford side in a crucial encounter at Spa Road.
In a scrappy and largely forgettable first half, both sides struggled to find any rhythm and there was little quality on view. Much of the game was played in Witham’s half as the home side were happy to allow Romford to push forward. As Romford’s laboured attacks broke down, they were threatened by Witham’s pacey breakaways. Sam Ashford in his now customary role in the centre of the attack looked lively and aggressive and he was proving a handful for Thomas Potter. Ashford had two good shots deflected for corners when in dangerous positions. Johnny Ashman was seeing plenty of the ball on the wing but despite winning a number of corners, Witham were having no more success than Romford in finding a cutting edge. Neither goalkeeper was tested and the teams left the field at half time knowing that they had to improve.
Witham found the crucial breakthrough early in the send half when Sam Ashford converted a 47th minute penalty after an infringement. This was the tonic that Witham needed. They immediately took control and the game finally sprang into life. Danny Norton and Michael Osei-Saahene were pulling the strings in midfield and Witham’s greater pace became a telling factor. As the home side played a more expansive game, Romford found themselves unable to respond and a second goal to Witham looked likely. It arrived in the 57th minute when Ashford scored a second penalty after the ball was handled in the area.
Alfie Cerulli’s intelligent movement off the ball was creating space and stretching the away defence. He headed just wide and Ashman had a shot pushed away by goalkeeper James Scammell for a corner.
Cerulli then used his strength to force his way past several opponents but Ashman shot over the bar. Luke Mallett in typical combative mood looked menacing as he sped down the right wing and put in a dangerous cross that Scammell parried with difficulty.
Witham were playing a simple game that was proving very effective as they launched a series of attacks.
Romford had lost eight of their last ten previous league games. They looked like a side shorn of confidence and they were unable to counter Witham’s second-half revival. Effort was not lacking but without a spark of inspiration, their labours were in vain. A Romford cross from the left found Alfie Cleal in a good position in the 71st minute but his shot went high and wide. There were very few other occasions in the 90 minutes when the Witham defence was troubled
Ashman twice went close in the final minutes for Witham.
On the balance of play in the second half, there could and should have been more goals for Witham, but they will be happy enough with a two-goal win and a clean sheet for the second successive Saturday. They are still in last place in the league table but are now only a point behind the two teams immediately above them.

Match details

Match date

Sat 08 Dec 2018

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

76

Competition

North Division

League position

17
Romford
20
Witham Town
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

pitchside sponsor - Witham Cleaning services
MAIN CLUB  SPONSOR - SIMARCO
sponsor - Benson School of Motoring