Croydon crashed to a depressing defeat in Essex as they gift-wrapped all three of Romford's goals with suicidal defending.

But the day couldn't have begun better as the blues eased through the early part of the game and ran their opposition ragged.

A 14th minute strike put the visitors one up and the goal looked like being the start of a comfortable victory.

John Myatt fired in from the edge of the area after Willie Lillington had flicked on Andrew Little's long punt downfield.

But the game changed on the half hour when skipper Tim Clark had to go off injured. Croydon lost their shape and a mistake by Mark Watkins allowed Romford to snatch an equaliser five minutes before the break.

The home side seemed to gain in confidence and though there were chances for both side, it was Romford who edged in front when Wade Falana capitalised on Danny Moody's dreadful headed back pass to score from just inside the box.

They added to that 70th minute strike seven minutes from time when former Arsenal man Martin Hayes took advantage of yet another error to score the clincher.

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