Colchester United's involvement in the Essex Senior Cup came to a close at the first hurdle on Monday evening, as Romford sprang a surprise in the Third Round tie.
A young U's side had chances in the game, but it was the visitors who took theirs in the second half to progress through to the next stage.
The match did see Louis Dunne get another 30 minutes on his return to action, but the U's were unable to find a way back into the game.
It was the visitors who started the sharper, with Christopher Taylor driving just over the bar after three minutes.
Noah Chilvers went closer for the U's on seventeen minutes, as he forced a good stop out of visiting keeper Russ Hughes.
And Hughes was to impress in the game as he kept the U's at bay.
His opposite number Bailey Vose denied the visitors a lead just before the half hour mark with a smart stop from Khadean Campbell.
However, Campbell was to get the upper hand early in the second half when he broke the deadlock with an effort that beat the U's keeper.
Hughes then kept Romford in front with a good save from the darting run of Andre Hassanally.
There was a big injury worry for Romford on the hour mark when Jamie Marsh was taken off after extended treatment for a clash of heads, but the U's were not able to take advantage of the rearranged Romford back four.
Dunne bent a free kick inches wide of the upright, but Romford quickly doubled their advantage.
A good move in the U's box saw Jones whip home a shot high into the net to take the game further from the home side.
Romford were reduced to ten men with seven minutes to go when Nathan Okoye got a second yellow, and the remaining time saw the U's press for a path back into the match.
Chances came - including an effort disallowed for offside - but the Romford bodies were in the way more often than not as they secured victory in this match.
U's: Vose, Barnes, Kazeem, Cornish (Dunne 60), Agboola (Cracknell 90 +2), Forino, Miller, Chilvers, Jones (McKeown 30), Charles, Hassanally