Forest survive late scare

By Peter Butcher

WALTHAM FOREST survived a late scare to become the first Ryman League side safely through to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup tonight (Friday).

In command for much for the night, their 4-1 away win over Romford at Ship Lane booked them an away tie at Hemel Hempstead and banked £1,750 in prize money.

Former Romford player Adrian Clifton (in whose colours he is pictured, courtesy of Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo), now the Forest skipper, gave his side a sixth-minute lead with a thumping header and they rarely looked back. Chris Taylor made it 2-0 on 35 minutes.

Romford rallied briefly midway through the second half and in a three-minute spell Paul Clayton missed an open goal, Hussain Isa hit a post with a free-kick and Jack Barry headed over the bar from point-blank range.

Manu Dagher's 74th-minute strike stretched the lead and it hardly seemed to matter when Clifton had an 88th-minute penalty saved by Elliott Anderson.

Jack Barry pulled one back a minute later and Romford promptly netted again through Brian Suchley. But, with Forest suddenly wobbling, the strike was disallowed and they breathed again.

Romford threw men forward and paid the price when Joel Palmer put the result beyond all possible doubt with a tap-in in the third minute of added time.

Where next?

Trawlerboys make it three out of three WILL it be third time lucky for Lowestoft? Beaten in the last two play-off finals, the Trawlerboys are the only Ryman Premier team with a 100 per cent record after their 2-1 home victory over Met Police yesterday (Saturday).
Chats draw level at the top CHATHAM drew level with Grays at the top of Ryman North with a 3-1 victory at Ilford tonight (Wednesday). Both have six points and 7-1 goal records - and they meet at Grays on Monday provided neither club has an FA Cup replay.

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