Romford secured the 2024 Isuzu FA Vase as they defeated Great Wakering Rovers 3-0 at Wembley, with striker Hassan Nalbant scoring a brace.
After losing in the Essex Senior Football League play-offs, Romford were looking for a change their luck and they begun the first half well, Finley Dorrell coming closest on the half hour mark with a left-footed effort.
Kris Newby and Charlie Morris came close, with the latter testing Rovers stopper Luis Shamshoum, whose sharp stop at his near post kept things all square going into the break.
But just eight minutes after the restart, Romford finally found the goal they had been pushing for, Morris threading a superb ball through to Nalbant, who calmly slotted home with the inside of his left boot.
And a couple of minutes later Dan Spinks’ side had doubled their lead. A Rovers penalty appeal was ignored by referee Will Finnie and Romford wasted no time in breaking down the other end. Dorrell’s shot was straight at Shamshoum but Deering was on hand to place the rebound into the far corner.
Opponent Great Wakering continued to push but were unable to beat Jake Anderson between the sticks, with Callum Boylan and substitute Anthony Martin missing golden opportunities.
And Romford wrapped up victory in stoppage time when Nalbant completed a brace, this time with the outside of his boot.
Great Wakering Rovers FC: 1 Luis Shamshoum (GK), 2 Kingdom Dawson, 4 Thomas Barton, 5 Harrison Topliss, 7 Harry Talbot, 8 Jake Gordon, 9 Callum Boylan, 10 Ben Search ©, 12 Joe Burgess, 14 Maximilian Gnandi, 16 Perry Dunn.
Substitutes: 11 Dominic Locke for 14 Gnandi 62’, 19 Anthony Martin for 2 Dawson 62’, 17 Callum Bloss for 4 Barton 81’.
Unused Subs: 3 Jack Nolde, 13 Harvey Gluckstad (GK), 15 Oliver Jenkins, 18 Billy Johnson.
Manager: Marcus Bowers
Romford FC: 2 Junior Luke, 4 Remi Sutton, 6 Scott Doe, 8 Adalberto Pinto, 9 Hassan Nalbant, 10 Sam Deering, 11 Finley Dorrell, 14 Kris Newby ©, 15 Charlie Morris, 19 Darren Phillips, 23 Jake Anderson (GK).
Substitutes: 16 Toheeb Elegushi for 11 Dorrell 67’, 13 Ashaan Siddick for 8 Pinto 72’, 7 Lee Hursit for 4 Sutton 90’.
Unused Subs: 3 Jamie Hursit, 5 Jacob Wiggins, 12 Danny Hurford, 17 Daniel Nakipov-Getmansky.
Manager: Dan Spinks
