Romford 1-4 Waltham Forest

For the second consecutive season, Forest will be in at least the first qualifying round of the FA Cup after defeatingRomford 4-1 at Ship Lane.

In truth, Forest could have scored more in a match they dominated from start to finish, save for a short spell of Romford pressure in the second half.

On Tuesday against Cheshunt, Forest went down to an early goal, but it was the other way around this time.

Corey Whitely, making his first start for the club was making an immediate impact down the wing, and forged two good chances, before eventually playing a key part in Forest’s first goal.

Whitely’s excellent work down the wing gave him the space to cut back to Luke Stanley whose perfect cross was met with a looping header by Adrian Clifton on the edge of the six-yard box.

Whitely, Luke Stanley and Chris Taylor were all looking dangerous, and it was Taylor who went closest next, heading over with a free-header.

Then Whitely went close, with a powerful front-post effort which was pushed away at the expense of a corner by the home ‘keeper.

Clifton went close again before Aaron Omand was eventually called into action for the first time, diving low to his right, making a good save.

Spurred on, Forest went up the other end and doubled their lead. Stanley picked up his second assist of the match, supplying Chris Taylor with a perfect through pass. Taylor’s powerful low shot took a slight deflection on it’s way past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The second half started like the first, with Whitely and Stanley again went close.

Then came Romford’s spell of pressure, forcing Omand into two good low saves. Romford also managed to miss two open goals and hit the woodwork once.

The game was taken out of Romford’s grasp mid-way through the second half. Luke Stanley rounded off a sensational performance by laying in Manu Dagher who bounced off former Forest defender Brian Suchley and finished with a deft lob over the stranded ‘keeper.

Stanley was booked for simulation on Tuesday, but there was no doubt when he won a penalty this evening.

Adrian Clifton stepped up to take the penalty, but it was excellently tipped onto the post by the Romford ‘keeper.

Pressing for a fourth, Forest were caught out as Barry grabbed a consolation goal from close-range on 88.

Romford thought they had scored a second moments after, but the referee signalled that the ball was kicked from Omand’s hands.

In the dying embers, Forest grabbed a second. Whitely’s surging run down the wing found Joel Palmer at the back post who found the back of the net with the help of a defender on the line.

Forest are now £1750 richer, and will be rewarded with a trip to Hemel Hempsted Town in the next round.