So Sunday afternoon and my second FA Cup tie of the weekend saw me over at the Thurrock Hotel in Ship Lane for a match between Romford and Hullbridge Sports.
The ground had seen a cup shock the day before when Landlords Thurrock had lost at home to Thurlow Nunn One side Halstead Town and so Hullbridge were hoping they could also spring a surprise of their own against Ryman North Romford.
And for the first few minutes the ESL side looked ready to cause a shock. Within a minute of the kick off Matt Brinklow played Luke Hornsley in and the striker saw his effort come back off the post but a minute after that a cross into the dangerzone saw Rob Hodgson head home from close range and give the visitors an early lead.
However the hosts regrouped and came back to level the tie up after only nine minutes as a ball swung in by left back Paul Preston saw Chinedu McKenzie head in off the post and bring the Ryman North side level in this contest. The hosts were most certainly finding their feet now and midway through the half they went in front when Preston, who was causing the visiting defence problems down the left, crossed for skipper Jamie Dicks to power home a close range header and see Romford turn this tie around.
The hosts continued to press and missed a couple of chances to increase their lead although the visiting side were far from out of the tie and proved this fact when Brinklow saw a decent effort well tipped over by hosts keeper Richard Wray five minutes before the break.
But then a minute into first half stoppage time Hullbridge gave away a stupid penalty when hauling down McKenzie inside the box and Matt Mitchell stepped up to slot home the spot kick and send the hosts into the half time break two goals to the good.
Half Time Romford 3 Hullbridge Sports 1
Sports knew an early goal back in the second half would change the look of this tie yet again and two minutes into it they should of had that goal as Hodgson somehow glanced a header wide from six yards out. It was a golden chance and one that should of been taken and the way he beat the turf after missing suggested he knew that too.
And moments later the miss was compounded when Romford made it four as McKenzie managed to drill a shot inside the near post for his second of the contest and suddenly the visitors were three goals behind with an even bigger almost impossible mountain to climb.
And for a period of time after the hosts dominated proceedings and could and should of added to their four goals, missing at least three decent opportunities, as they threatened to run away with the contest. However the hosts failed to capitalise on this period of dominance and had a warning from the visitors when a rare second half chance for the ESL side saw Jimmy Cox spoon over an effort at the far post when it looked easier to score.
As the half entered the last twenty minutes or so though the visitors began to get a foothold in the game once again as the hosts seemed to drop in tempo and the visitors thought they should of had a penalty when Hodgson seemed to be shoved over inside the box but saw nothing given and his protests ended with him being booked as Hullbridge looked a frustrated side.
However Hullbridge kept plugging away and they found a second goal with just under fifteen minutes remaining when Harry Skinner saw the ball drop to him outside the box and he fired a shot beyond Wray into the bottom corner and the Bridge boys had a sniff of an opening. The sniff became a real chance nine minutes later when they got another goal back as Hornsley was played in and he slotted home and suddenly the hosts were hanging on.
Sports now fancied their chances of getting something from the game and in the final minute of normal time won a free kick which was swung into the back post and saw Hodgson amongst others dive and appear to head just wide of the goal, however the linesman had his flag up for a free kick to Romford, and after discussion with the referee saw Hodgson dismissed for a second booking as he had put the ball wide with his hand and not his head and as it was deemed deliberate handball it was a bookable offence.
The final few minutes saw Romford cling on and take the win which at one point looked likely to be a comfortable one but ended up being anything but. However it is the Ryman North side who take their place in the First Qualifying Round and an away tie at Ryman Premier Harlow Town in two weeks time.
Full Time Romford 4 Hullbridge Sports 3
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