BOWERS & Pitsea moved 11 points clear at the top of the Isthmian North standings after claiming a comprehensive 4-1 win over bottom side Romford.

An own goal from Boro defender Ayo Olukoga gave the visitors the lead before David Knight grabbed a brace of goals and Brad Warner was also on target.

Calvin Poku found the back of the net for the struggling hosts, but the substitute’s effort proved to be nothing more than merely a consolation at Rookery Hill.

Knight was handed a presentable chance in the opening two minutes as a Romford pass went astray inside the home side’s penalty area, but the Bowers frontman was unable to capitalise and dragged his effort wide.

However, the visitors only had to wait until the 10th minute for the opening goal.

Quentin Monville drove to the by-line before putting a low pass across the face of goal and Romford defender Olukoga bundled the ball into his own net.

And Bowers boasted a two-goal cushion eight minutes later as Knight’s wonderful lobbed effort caught Boro goalkeeper Harry Aldridge off his line.

Warner came close to adding his name to the scoresheet as the winger’s curling strike from the edge of the penalty area went agonisingly wide.

But the former AFC Hornchurch man was not to be denied a goalscoring performance as, three minutes before the break, he latched onto a Lewis Manor flick and sent a thunderbolt into the bottom corner of the net.

Romford’s first meaningful chance came minutes after the interval.

Having seen penalty appeals waved away, Poku connected with the resulting corner. But the substitute’s header was smothered by Bowers goalkeeper Andy Wilton.

Bowers then managed to clear a goalmouth scramble off the line as the hosts went in search of a goal to give them hope.

But Romford could not find a breakthrough and Bowers grabbed a fourth goal seven minutes after the break.

Boro captain Danny Cossington failed to clear his lines and Knight pounced on the defensive error before rolling the ball home.

Poku reduced the deficit by meeting a Romford corner with a bullet header four minutes later.

But Bowers were still able to run out comfortable winners and were able to record a seventh consecutive victory.

Bowers & Pitsea: Wilton, Sammons, Stephen, Stokes, Clark, Leahy, Monville (Nyanja 88), Sartain (Cornhill 83), Manor, Knight, Warner (Dicks 73)