The committee reacted switly to the goals conceded against Wycombe with changes at the back. Arthur Maggs, a regular in the Stroller team the previous season before a couple of midweek first team appearances during the end-of-season fixture pile-up, was picked ahead of Fuller and with Magill suffering a badly blistered foot Jack Picton was selected at centre-half with Jack Fuller stepping in late at right-half. Up front Green had failed to recover from injury and Don Rhodes, from Wandgas (although previously with Tooting & Mitcham), was given the chance at centre-forward. The unavailability of Bill Magill meant a reprieve for Fuller, who took his place at right-half.

The changes prompted a much improved display and Rhodes took only three minutes to obtain his debut goal after Stannard had set him clear. Roused, the Essex side pressed for an equaliser, but Picton used his height to good effect and the defence held firm, although Bridge had the ball in the net only to be pulled back by the official’s whistle for a foul. The ball went back up the other end and Head put Gauntlett through. The home defenders’ appeals for offside were ignored and the winger’s cross found Rhodes who evaded a challenge from Ivey and cleverly increased the visitor’s lead. Bridge pulled one back a minute later with a 25 yard screamer that completely beat Haydock. The Romford keeper did well to take the ball of Rhodes’ toe, then Maggs had to head clear during a scramble after Haydock could only parry Gibbs-Bennett’s shot. The pace was cracking right up to the interval, but the whistle blew with Wimbledon still in the lead.

The visitors could have increased their advantage after the restart, but Ivey saved with his legs from Rhodes and Paviour was able to clear. Romford then drew level after 52 minutes when Lemmer was penalised for protecting his face with his hands and Patterson struck the resultant penalty an inch inside the upright, giving Haydock no chance. Romford’s increased optimism was apparent and they forced two quick corners and kept the Dons pegged back for a solid five minutes, but the defence stood up well to the onslaught, and eventually Wimbledon found their way back up the other end and a nice passing movement resulted in Rhodes feeding Stannard who beat challenges from Paviour and Fryatt before shooting low past Ivey to put the Dons back in the lead. Rhodes thought he had completed a debut hat-trick, but he’d been caught by Romford’s persistent offside trap, a tactic which caught out the forwards on many occasions. With five minutes remaining it looked like Romford had saved a point when Haydock was only able to knock down a shot from Howlett and Williams was first to the rebound but, as in the previous two games, Ron Head had other ideas. A challenge on Haydock by two opponents was penalised and the ball travelled forward to Head, who beat several defenders before scoring with a low shot, sealing Romford’s first home league defeat of the season.