FC Romania 0, Heybridge Swifts 2

Swifts gained revenge against their hosts eight years after their hosts, then members of the Essex senior league, knocked them out of the FA Cup.

FC Romania have moved upwards since that shick win in 2024 and now play in the Southern League Division One Central, meeting Swifts on level terms but this time the visitors went away happy thanks to a brace from Andy Fennell.

The opening quarter of an hour saw both sides enjoy an equal share of possession. Swifts looked like they had taken an early lead when Ross Wall netted after 16 minutes but his effort was ruled offside! Fennell then went close five minutes later forcing a fine save from Tommy Dixon-Hodge.

In the 23rd minute Swifts broke the deadlock when a long pass out of defence by Darren Phillips found Fennell in space and he touched the ball beyond the outrushing keeper before calmly dribbling into the six yard box before netting to put Swifts ahead - a lead they carried into the second half.

Swifts continued to press forward after the break and Fennell was again thwarted by Dixon-Hodge after 54 minutes.

The second and all-important goal came with 13 minutes left when Wall laid the ball out to Fennell on the left side of the area and he smashed his shot beyond Dixon-Hodge into the top right corner for his fourth goal in the FA Cup this season after his brace against Clapton.