BORO LIVING THE WEMBLEY DREAM
RAMPANT Romford held their nerve from the spot to reach the Isuzu FA Vase final at Wembley following a tightly contested affair.
Substitute Jamie Hursit scored the winning penalty – the 24th of an epic shootout – as Boro overcame Lincoln United by the narrowest of margins.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said joyous chairman Steve Gardener after the goalless draw in Lincolnshire followed a 2-2 draw in Romford last Saturday.
“I keep playing the penalty shootout over in my head. It is obviously real but it is very surreal as well.
“I am not sure it is a great way to go through, it is very nerve-wracking. Our keeper saved the first two penalties and you think the balance is with you, and then it goes the other way. I was half-watching through my fingers.
“It is a very deserved victory but I must say though well played to Lincoln. They were very magnanimous in defeat, and they were worthy opponents but we just shaded it.”
An even, if not cagey, opening saw half chances created at both ends.
Elliott Dye and Jack McMenemy were both presented with opportunities for United Counties League side Lincoln, but neither could turn home from close range.
Hassan Nalbant flashed a ferocious effort just inches over the bar for the visitors before they had the ball in the net just before half-time, only for referee Ben Wyatt to pull the game back for a foul on home keeper Jack Steggles.
Romford had a great chance just after the break too as Adalberto Pinto put over a lovely chipped pass for Charlie Morris but the
Romford forward snatched at the effort and could only put his half volley wide.
Pinto then had a piledriver of a shot spectacularly kept out by Steggles, before Remi Sutton spurned two great chances from setpieces.
Lincoln, however, remained a threat. Last week’s goal hero Matthew Cotton found himself with the goal at his mercy for the Whites after a through ball down the right, but he pulled his effort wide of the target.
Still, though, it was Romford
making most of the running. Good work from Sam Deering down the left found Morris in the box but his close-range effort was saved by Steggles.
And when Ash Siddick and Nalbant both found themselves in good positions in the box, they were denied by goal-saving challenges from Lincoln defender Michael Jacklin.
After two solid defensive displays, it was perhaps fitting that the tie would go straight to penalties.
Lincoln had chances to put the tie to bed but after Cotton rolled Lincoln’s 12th penalty wide of the target, Jamie Hursit stepped up to score his second in the shootout to give Romford a 10-9 win.
Keeper Steggles was disappointed with not being able to get over the line, telling The NLP: “We’ve been lucky this season, we’ve won eight on the bounce, and obviously the last hurdle, we couldn’t quite get over it.” STAR MAN: Darren Phillips (Romford) ATT: 1,400 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Ben Wyatt