Two goals in two second half minutes were crucial as Romford became FA Vase winners for 2024.

Hassan Nalbant put Boro in front on 53 minutes and Sam Deering doubled that advantage moments later amid chaotic scenes in the stands and on the field at Wembley.

There was the inevitable pressure from their Essex Senior League rivals after that, but four minutes past the 90, Nalbant scored again to kick the jubilant scenes into top gear after a 3-0 win.

Romford would have been delighted with their work in the first half, only the lack of a goal falling in the minus column.

They had a number of promising positions early on that were not put on target, and that continued for long periods.

The two clearest opportunities fell to Finley Dorrell.

The first was after a shot from the right edge of the area by Kris Newby was skewed across goal and seemingly heading out of play at the far post.

Dorrell was alert though and charged in to meet it, totally unmarked.

Unfortunately for him though, Luis Shamshoum was equally alert, smothering it behind at the foot of the upright.

That corner ended up being flashed across goal by Adalberto Pinto, the Rovers defender on the near post scuffing it behind.

Dorrell's other chance came as he momentarily got in behind the last defender.

He was checked slightly but still got an attempt away, however, it came across the keeper and went just wide of the post.

There were other opportunities, Charlie Morris with other shots that were off target, but there wasn't too many scares at the other end.

That said the two Wakering did manage to conjure perhaps should have been converted, Harry Talbot and Callum Boylan, the latter with the last kick if the half, guilty of big misses and failing to hit the target.

Dorrell had the first chance of the second half too, and while the idea to curl it round the defender and into the far corner was the right one, the execution put it to close to the keeper.

However, two goals in two minutes inside the opening 10 minutes of the second period made all the previous opportunities melt away.

The first came from a horrible mistake by the Rovers defence, a slack pass easily intercepted by Morris.

He took a touch and then fed Nalbant who picked his spot in the far corner.

The second had the scorer involved again, this time sending it out to the left for Dorrell to shoot.

Shamshoum made the save but as it came back to Dorrell, it deflected to Deering who had half the goal to choose from.

Rovers were particularly annoyed at the second of them as it came mere moments after they felt they had won a penalty, a tackle right on the edge of the area by Junior Luke going unpunished.

From there Great Wakering had their best moments, pushing forward as they had to but leaving big gaps behind them that Romford could exploit.

They should have done too, substitute Toheeb Elegushi was a particular danger while one superb piece of defending by Gordon stopped Boro from converting a four-on-two.

The final 10 minutes saw Rovers more and more desperate, and had Romford's Darren Phillips nursing a bad case of cramp.

He had to finish the 90 and then seven minutes of stoppage time too, Romford using their last sub to take off Remi Sutton.

A big miss from Boylan two minutes into those added minutes, miscued wide seemed costly.

Two minutes later Nalbant doubled down on that, escaping behind and putting the gloss on the win with a deft and composed curling flick round the keeper.

Phillips would need more work on his cramp before the end but he was there at the end as Romford celebrated in front of their delirious fans.

The winners of the 2024 FA Vase.

Match facts

Romford: Anderson, Luke, Sutton (L.Hursit 90), Doe, Pinto (Siddick 72), Nalbant, Deering, Dorrell (Elegushi 62), Newby, Morris, Phillips.

Subs (not used): Wiggins, J.Hursit, Hurford, Nakipov-Getmansky. 

Goals: Nalbant 53, 90+4, Deering 55

Booked: Sutton 41, Pinto 66

 

Great Wakering Rovers: Shamshoum, Dawson (Martin 62), Topliss, Dunn, Burgess, Barton (Bloss 80), Search, Gordon, Gnandi (Locke 62), Boylan, Talbot.

Subs (not used): Gluckstad, Nolde, Jenkins, Johnson.

Goals: 

Booked: Barton 60

 

HT: Romford 0 Great Wakering Rovers 0

Added time: 2+7

Man of the match: Sam Deering (Romford)

Referee: Will Finnie (Northamptonshire FA)

Venue: Wembley Stadium