A resurgent Romford somehow managed to commit daylight robbery and leave Crayford with a 1-0 victory despite being outplayed by their hosts VCD.

The Vickerss had James Tedder to thank for a close range save from Paul Burnett in the first 10 minutes but this was one of very few chances for the visitors on a day when the hooped side dominated proceedings.

On 13 minutes Vickers’ midfielder Lee Maskell made a terrific surging run to get on the end of a precise Gary Ward pass and clipped the ball above the advancing keeper and as the ball went over the line Romford’s James Gammons hooked the ball away while clearly in the goal.

To the amazement of the Vickers players and management the goal was not given as the linesman was not up with play and referee Gary Croft gave nothing to the Vickers as he did all game it has to be said.

Only 2 minutes later the visitors scored the only goal of the game on 15 minutes when they capitalised on a mix up between Gary Cook and Tedder enabling Burnett to square the ball to Jack Barry who sidefooted home from 6 yards out.

The Vickers lost captain Danny Penny after only 20 minutes when he had to limp off with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Leroy Huggins.

VCD had the ball in the net for the second time in the half when Gary Cook volleyed home from 8 yards out while on the floor but the referee adjudged there to be a foul from the corner which was not appealed by Romford.

VCD laid seige to Romford's goal for the second half as the visiting side struggled to contain the onslaught.

No fewer than three goalmouth scrambles resulted in corners as the ball somehow just missed the target with the best chance falling to left back Jason Barton who just missed the ball from 2 yards out.

Lively forward Aaron Firth cracked a speculative volley from 25 yards that beat Neil Finn but the ball cannoned off the post with the keeper helpless and inevitably the ball evaded the advancing Nick Hegley and was cleared to safety.

The Vickers then had the ball in the net for the third time when Barton rose with the keeper from a Winchcombe corner and as his own player collided with Finn, Barton headed home and the referee signalled for a goal sparking celebrations from the Vickers’ players.

The referee then strangely awarded a free kick despite the earlier signal for a goal which puzzled Romford and VCD alike.

Debutant Callum O'Shea was introduced for the last 20 minutes and immediately showed his pace and trickery with some fine wing play.

The 19 year old ex-Eire U18 international sent a dipping volley goalwards from 15 yards out but Finn saved well.

Romford clung on desperately to steal an unlikely three points to leave VCD punished by a solitary mistake and nothing to show for a dominating display, not helped it has to be said by some very poor refereeing and not for the first time at Oakwood from man in the middle Gary Croft.

VCD Line up J Tedder, Winchcombe, Barton, Maskell, Cook, Watson, Ward, Hogg (O’Shea 71 mins), Penny (Huggins 20 mins), Firth, Hegley Subs not used Ibemere, Rice and C Tedder