June 2010:

Spartan South Midlands Football League Awards

At the recent SSMFL AGM Royston Town received the following awards:

  • Sportsmanship Trophy - First Team
  • Discipline Award - First Team
  • Best Hospitality to Officials
  • Club Assistant Certificate - Simon Jeffries
  • Best Programme in Premier Division
  • Houghton Regis Cup (for achievements outside of the League)

 

 

Ladies storm to tournament victory!

World Cup tournament fever seemed to inspire Royston Town Ladies FC when they powered their way to victory in the Cambs FA Women’s Festival held at Impington on Sunday.  The group stages saw Town in a rich vein of form as they won 3 and drew 1 to book a place in the semi-final.  Histon were their opponents in what proved to be a really tight game which ended 0-0.  Royston held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out with Emma Chaffey saving three of the Histon penalties whilst Leanne Buchannan, Hannah Mardell, Sharon Pinner and Gemma Barlow converted for the Town.

In the final Royston faced Long Road and had the chance to avenge their earlier 1-0 defeat in the group stages.  Royston upped their game and were unlucky not to have won the contest in normal time but instead after a 0-0 draw then went onto their second penalty shoot-out of the day which they eventually won 4-3 with conversions by Buchannan, Pinner, Chaffey & Barlow to take the title!  Let’s hope the England team can emulate Royston Town Ladies if it comes down to a penalty shoot-out in order to win the World Cup!!

Photo

Back L-R

Kelly Turl, Gemma Barlow, Hannah Mardell, Sharon Pinner, Merv Chaffey (Coach)

Front L-R

Wendy Webster, Marie Miller, Clare Ratty, Emma Chaffey, Leanne Buchannan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royston Town Youth Under 17's League Cup Final - Broadhall Youth 0 Royston Town Youth 2

In the first half, these two closely matched sides exchanged attacks on goal Broadhall having the better chances but Royston controlled most of the possession. The midfield battle between Josh Foster and Josh Burr of Royston and Marvin Luzinda Broadhall was strongly but fairly contested, with Josh Foster break down the the Broadhall play. Royston stood strong with Ben Hammond and Tom Dolden at the heart of defence and Jamie Gibbs covering well in goal. the few chances Royston created in the first half were worked well down the wings from good passes from the full backs Callum Bacon and Mark Deeds. Royston's forwards looked positive and only a hard working Broadhall defence kept Royston from scoring.   The second half was a different story with Royston starting the more positive side. Good work off the ball from Will Dacey and Scott James proved to be a deciding factor. on 65mins Royston finally broke the deadlock with clinical finish from Scott Piggott. Broadhall still on the back foot immediatly conceeded a corner. Scott James stepped up and smashed the corner kick in. It passed five Broadhall defenders before nestling in the corner of the net to extend Roystons Lead. Broadhall looked deflated but kept pressing. Hard work from George Ansell and Sean Yarwood kept Broadhall pinned back, but the last five minutes of the game saw Royston under pressure, only good defending from Joe Dobson and Jamie Gibbs kept a clean sheet for Royston.

 

 

 

Broxbourne Borough      1-2      Royston Town  

The crows deservedly finished the season on a high by winning and therefore retaining the Floodlit Cup at Broxbourne FC on Sunday afternoon. 250 brave soles braved the weather elements to see Royston overcome the early sending off Ashley Grinham but largely dominate the game and fittingly end a very positive season. The game started at a furious tempo with some early tackles and off the ball instances keeping referee Crawford busy and the game was hardly given the opportunity to settle down as both sides seemed more than determined to get some control of proceedings. There was only 13 minutes on the clock when Ashley Grinham was blatantly elbowed off the ball and the Young full back retaliated by kicking his opposite number. As so often happens in the game of  football only the second action was seen by the officials and Grinham received a straight red card. Aggrieved by the harsh injustice this only sparked the visitors into life and Royston went on to control the rest of the half with personnel battles won together with a brand of crisp football giving them good territorial advantage. Chances were few and far between despite some good pressure with Ricky Young having the only clear opening when a swift move from midfield opened up Borough's defence with Young cutting inside the area but firing over from a great position. Centre halves Nick Mulvaney and David Cain had outstanding games controlling the Borough strike force and keeper Jorden Gibson only made a couple of routine saves from half chances created throughout the entirety of the half. Royston took confidence from the first half and despite player and tactical changes from their opponents The Crows continued to look the more threatening in possession of the ball and  therefore most likely to score. They deservedly took the lead in the 55th minute after a neat move through midfield released Ryan Lockett into the area who had his shirt tugged which was deemed sufficient enough to award the penalty which Lockett himself smashed into the bottom corner.  Borough tried to press forward but were mainly limited to a trio of long range free kicks that were all wildly off target. As the game moved on the game got a little stretched but numbers were evened up mid way through the half when Borough had a player harshly dismissed for a second bookable offence. Russell Bull had two great opportunities, both from close range headers that would normally be bread and butter to the tall striker but both were weakly off target. The other clear chance fell t Tom Malins on ran onto a threaded Carl Edwards through ball but shot straight at the keeper from inside the area as the game stayed finely poised. At the other end a header from a corner cleared the crossbar and the only time the Crows defence was breached in open play Gibson raced from his line to block a Borough forward with on rushing bodies helping to minimise the danger. Borough did level with 16 minutes remaining when Lee Brennan smashed in an unstoppable 25 yarder out of nothing but the prolonged celebrations were largely premature as Royston won the game just three minutes later. A Royston attack broke down around the Borough penalty with Carl Edwards then superbly dispossessing a dithering defender. This allowed Ricky Young  time t cross for Ryan Lockett who superbly side stepped the last defender and drilled under the keeper from ten yards. Royston then did well to see out the remaining time and six minutes overtime with Gibson still having to make a fine stop low down from another long range free kick but this was Royston's day and deserved it was .   Paul Attfield commented : " The lads did superbly well from start to finish. They produced all the ingredients needed for success in cup finals and were the better team on the day. I didn't like some of what happened early on in the game which wasn't suitably dealt with and unfortunately we got sucked into it with Ashley getting sent Off. However it only went on to galvanise our players and make them more determined. We fought harder and played the better football for the majority of the game despite a lot of minutes of numerical disadvantage and the player's efforts were rightly awarded with the win."     Team  -  Gibson  Endacott  Grinham  Mulvaney  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Young (Apostolos)  Bull  Lockett  Malins  (Wilson)  Unused  Crosk  Stephens  De Lacy    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royston Town      3-2    O oxhey Jets  

Royston will finish their season with a cup final after a tense narrow victory against Oxhey Jets at Garden Walk on Wednesday evening. Paul Attfield's side struggled to find any of the form they had in recent league games but a three goal burst early in the second half  and an inspiring goal keeping performance from Jorden Gibson saw them cross the line and a final versus Broxbourne Borough on Sunday 16th May. The first half was a fairly cagey affair with Royston showing glimses of attacking prowess but struggling to break through a greatly numbered Jets defencive set up who attempted to catch Royston on the break with three very pacy front men. Full Back Ashley Grinham had The Crow's best chance of the half from the best attacking move when he raced onto a through ball and rounded the keeper but shot into the side netting from a tight angle. Ryan Lockett hit a well struck free kick just wide from twenty five yards with the keeper quite well beaten before Jets struck just before the half hour with their first real chance. Royston rather shot themselves in the foot as disastrous marking allowed Luke Beardsworth to head a corner in from just six yards. This livened the Jets up and a only a last ditch Nick Mulvaney tackle and a smart diving block from Gibson denied Jets two more goals from vigorous counter-attacking but there was no more scoring before the interval. Whatever was said at half time livened the game up and Attfield also introduced Luke Robins and a change of formation to the set up as the hosts went straight on the attack to hit a seven minute, three goal burst early in the half. Robins's first run down the left channel saw him out pace the full back and his sublime inch perfect cross was met by Russell Bull at the far post for 1-1. Unfortunately Robins was caught knocking the cross in and had to be replaced three minutes later unable to continue with ankle ligament damage. Before the substitution full back Lewis Endacott had given Royston the lead as he raced into the heart of the Jet's central defence and unleashed an unstoppable 20 yard thunderbolt into the roof of the net. Scott Crosk replaced Luke Robins and with the host's tails up they added a third when Ryan Lockett's low angled cross was again turned in by Bull at the far post. Ross Collins, twice, Ryan Lockett and Bull had presentable chances to add to the three goals and Ashley Grinham was unlucky when his far post header from a Lockett corner hit a post and was hacked off the line. In complete home ascendancy the pendulum turned with twenty minutes remaining when more poor marking from a throw in allowed Beardsworth time to swivel and strike into the far corner of the net to help his side reduce the deficit. Royston got nervous and edgy and no fewer than five stunning saves from Gibson as Jets laid siege to the host's area kept the slim advantage intact. Jets also hit the woodwork when a whipped in free kick missed everyone and hit the base of the upright. With time running out Royston had chances to counter attack Jet's moves but couldn't quite execute decent possession into chances but time eventually run out for the visitor's.   Team :  Gibson  Apostolos (Robins) (Crosk) Grinham Mulvaney Cain Collins Edwards Endacott Bull Lockett Young  Unused Hollingsworth Stephens   Paul Attfield :" It will be a great way to end our season with a cup final after a game that we never got any decent control of. I felt Jets made a decent fist of the game and quite rightly can feel aggrieved they haven't won the game. We made too many basic defencive errors which created far to much unnecessary pressure and at times we had to defend desperately against decent forwards. We had an excellent opening period to the second half when we found extra gears and quality and that twenty minutes of good play and a fine goalkeeping show from Jorden has been enough for us on the evening"     

Royston Town      4-2   Chalfont St Peter  

Royston saved one of their best halves of football to the very last as a blistering second half team performance completely overwhelmed the team that just missed out on promotion. Despite being a goal down at the interval Paul Attfield's side turned on the style during the second period and in fairness they were that dominant the damage inflicted could have been far worse but for some adverse finishing. With Tring Athletic winning 1-0 at Hatfield Town it means The Crows finish the season in fourth place, a fine achievement when they were only in mid table at the beginning of March. But 15 victories from their last 18 matches have seen them gate crash the higher positions.   Royston looked the more energetic of the two teams throughout the game but struggled to create chances in the first half. The game was quite tight and scrappy and The Crows struggled to breakdown a well organised defencive unit that often used the offside trap to their advantage. When Royston did get in decent positions they failed to execute the quality needed to create clear chances. Ricky Young has the host's best chance mid way through the half when his 20 yard half volley flew straight at the keeper. Russell Bull was looking a threat in the air and he went close but off target a couple of times from Ryan Lockett corners. At the other end Chalfont offered little in attack and had not threatened at all until they got a break in first half injury time. Royston gave the ball away in midfield and a well weighted lofted pass found a forward breaking into the box who sent a deft volleyed lob over Jorden Gibson and into the net. Royston changed their shape at the interval and the team arguably delivered their best half of football of the season as they battered their opponents for the most of it. Going straight on the attack and looking quick, decisive and threatening in all attacking areas Royston were level on 50 minutes. Good link up play down the right from Tom Malins and Ricky Young ended with a good cross coolly converted by Carl Edwards from 16 yards. Two minutes later the hosts were in front again Young broke down the right channel and his cross was clearly handled by a defender with Ryan Lockett blasting his spot kick down the middle of the goal. The chances came thick and fast with a number of superb moves and in particular good crossing that the Chalfont team were struggling to deal with. A lockett free kick was turned onto a post by Rusell Bull and another cross was headed over the bar by Young from eight yards. Ricky Young could have had a hat trick has he had two very presentable chances with only the keeper to beat but each time the stopper brought off fine blocks to thwart the teenager.  Carl Edwards, Tom Malins and Ross Collins all had efforts blocked by defenders and Royston were made to pay wit their failure to kill off the game when Chalfont levelled with a brief foray into The Crows penalty area in the 80th minute. A simple corner delivery was poorly defended allowing a free eight yard header that went into the net off of the crossbar. This didn't deter Royston and they were back in front on 83 minutes. Russell Bull worked hard to create a crossing opportunity on the left and his well flighted delivery was controlled by Malins at the far post who swivelled and shot into the other net corner. The Crows continued to press and it was Russell Bull that scored his side's final and 118th league goal of the season with three minutes left when he poked home a loose ball after Chalfont failed to deal with another set play.   Team  Gibson  Endacott (Stephens)  Grinham  Mulvaney  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Young (Crosk)  Bull  Lockett (Robins) Malins   Unused Hollingsworth  Apostolos   Paul Attfield commented : " A great end to our league season from the players. We were quite brilliant in the second half and it is no exaggeration to say we could have had ten goals in the end. I didn't think we deserved to be losing at the interval and the timing of the goal we conceded was bad but the players showed good maturity and shrugged off the knock back  to deliver a stunning exhibition of attacking football."       

Oxhey jets     1-3      Royston Town  

The crows completed their final away league fixture of the season and their penultimate game overall and the final outcome means Paul Attfield's side have secure fourth place in their first season back in the premier division. Providing they take more points than Tring Athletic in Saturday's final home game against Chalfont St Peter the side will gatecrash third place which would be an unbelievable achievement. The first half of this game was best forgotten as the contest lacked any momentum or quality with many mistakes made and possession of the ball given up too easily. The hosts probably had a valid excuse having played two games in the previous four days but more was expected from the Royston team as they looked uncharacteristically disjointed throughout the half. Oxhey put the Best moves of the half together but failed to create clear openings. The closest they came was from a well worked move down the left that created a half chance for a forward who drove a volley high over the crossbar and just before half time Jorden Gibson did superbly well to tip over a speculative 25 yard effort at full stretch. Royston surprisingly failed to trouble the home goal at all from open play and the closest they came was also just before half time when a deep free kick from Lewis Endacott was drilled over the crossbar by Russell Bull from 16 yards. Unsurprisingly Royston appeared with a better all round attitude in the second half and the game definitely had a better pace to it. Oxhey had the first opening when a short free kick routine caught the visitors off guard and another long range effort hit the corner of post and crossbar before landing safe. Royston were keeping the ball better and scored their opener on 58 minutes from their first real created chance. Ashley Grinham did well to pull Lewis Endacott's deep cross back from the by line and Russell Bull converted from six yards. Almost immediately Oxhey were back on level terms when Nick Mulvaney slipped onto the ball with his arm unintentionally making connection with the ball but referee Sage awarded a penalty that was converted by Lee Grace. Manager Paul Attfield altered the shape of his team and made a couple of substitutions that definitely helped his side grasp control of the remaining game time. The introduction of Jan Stephens , Scott Crosk and Ryan Lockett helped Royston steal control of the game. With the visitors looking threatening they effectively won the game in the 82nd minute when a sweet cross field pass from Lockett found Crosk on the left who beat the full back before crossing for Bull to volley at the far post via the keeper's head and crossbar. The game was wrapped up two minutes later when Lockett's corner was directly headed into the net by Nick Mulvaney. Further chances fell to Bull and Tom Malins who narrowly missed the target and Gibson had to make two more superb saves to keep the two goal margin of victory intact. The win secured Royston's fourteenth in their last seventeen matches and sees them pass the 80 point and 150 competitive goals for the season barrier.    Team - Gibson  Endacott (Lockett) Grinham (Stephens)  Mulvaney  McElvoy  Collins  Edwards  Cain (Crosk)  Bull  Young  Malins       

 

 

Sandy Vets 1           Royston Town Vets 2                                                                   

Town Vets wound up the season at Moggerhanger with a fine 2-1 win over Sandy Vets.

With neat possession football Town dominated the game in the early stages and should have gone ahead after 5 minutes when Paul Lewis lobbed the advancing ‘keeper but the ball floated wide of the upright. Further openings were created but either the final ball failed to reach the target or the home defence scrambled the ball away.

Town deservedly took the lead on 25 minutes when Kevin Barthrop raided down the left wing and Peter Leete converted the resulting cross past the ‘keeper. Sandy equalised almost immediately when a rare attack caught Town’s defence square and the Sandy centre-forward ran through to beat ‘keeper Simon Dobson. Town continued to threaten the home goalmouth and restored their lead when an attempted clearance went straight to Leete who promptly thumped the ball back past the ‘keeper into the roof of the net.

In the second half the central midfield pairing of Carlo Silenti and Matt McQueen were in outstanding form to maintain Town’s grip on the game and although the best of further chances fell to Town there were no more goals.    

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, A. Smith, K Flack, N.King, G.Pinner, M.McQueen, C.Silenti, N.Humphries, J.Moulding, P.Leete, P.Lewis, K.Barthrop, B.Cannon, I.Allen.

 

Harefield United      0-2      Royston Town  

The Crow's blistering run of good form continued with an excellent result at 6th placed Harefield United finishing a fine week for Paul Attfield's side with three victories in five days and their thirteenth in sixteen outings overall. The win sees Royston jump Colney Heath to fourth spot in the table and two victories in their remaining two games could see them oust Tring Athletic for third spot on a weekend that Aylesbury were crowned League Champions. Harefield's excellent playing surface was always going to encourage attractive football on a hot afternoon and in the opening exchanges it seemed the demands of two other fixtures in the previous four days was affecting the visitors who seemed quite content to sit back and allow the technically good Harefield side plenty of time and space on the ball. This allowed the home side plenty of opportunity to get inside the Royston defencive third but despite the bulk of early possession few clear chances were created. One right wing cross was headed back across the face of goal if a desperate dive from the winger just eluding the ball as it went narrowly wide. Another trio of efforts harmlessly missed the target or drifted comfortably towards keeper Jorden Gibson and as the half wore on Royston gradually began to string some good moves together to create some openings from themselves. Tom Malins drifted in one free kick out wide which missed everyone and ended up in the net but the advancement of attacking players towards the ball after the free kick encouraged the assistant to flag for offside and a second free kick was superbly tipped over by the keeper at full stretch. Ross Collins and Ricky Young both had presentable efforts miss the target and a good cross from Young just before half time was met by Russell Bull at the near post with his goal bound effort blocked by a defender. The game probably deserved to be level at the interval but Royston stepped their game up to control the second half in dominant fashion. David Cain could have given his side the lead early on in the half when his point blank header from a corner was blocked by the keeper but they did take the lead on 57 minutes when a good move down the left ended with Jan Stephens floating over a cross which eluded everyone's run apart from captain Ross Collins who had time to arrow  a twelve yard half volley across the keeper and into the net. Royston's cause was helped further soon after when Harefield's captain was deservedly sent off for a second bookable offence for a nasty looking lunge tackle at Lewis Endacott. Many thought the player should have been dismissed in the first half for retaliation against an Ashley Grinham tackle. Royston sured the game up mid way through the half when a well waited through ball from Stephens found Tom Malins who ran on goal and slipped the ball under the keeper's body. Jorden Gibson made one fall length diving catch from a twenty yard free kick but was otherwise untroubled with Nick Mulvaney and Dean McElvoy in the heart of defence once again catching the eye with dominating performances. Royston really should have added to their two goal tally in the final twenty minutes as they contrived to waste a number of opportunities after some really good approach play with Scott Crosk, Young and Malins all going close on occasions but the result never looked in doubt after the second goal was scored and in the end it was a relatively comfortable outing for the visitors.   Paul Attfield commented : "It has been a tremendous week for the lads. Three tough games on paper all away from home and three deserved wins. Physically this recent schedule has been insane but the team seem to have thrived on the relentlessness of it all and consistently given top performances. Our attacking play and creativity is still at optimum levels and recent defencive signings have sewn up the frailties we had at the back and we look a much stronger unit for it. If we can maintain fourth position I will be chuffed to bits, if the opportunity presents itself for third place I'm sure we will give it our best shot."      Team  -  Gibson  Enact  Grin ham (Stephens)  Mulroney  Melva  Cain  Collins  Edwards (Locket)  Young  Bull  (Croak)  Mal ins

 

 

 

Hanwell Town      2-4      Royston Town  

Manager Paul Attfield's pre season target of a top six position in their first season in the division was virtually achieved with this excellent win in West London on Thursday night. One more point will mathematically see it impossible to fall outside that region although a superior goal difference now should see them safe now. With three games remaining it is still possible to finish as high as third and the sheer determination shown by the side in this game would warrant such an achievement. After the exertions of Tuesday evening's game at Dunstable anyone would have forgiven the side for looking a little jaded but despite a long injury list and seven changes from that game this result was fully justified. On one of the best playing surfaces in the league the hosts, without a Tuesday evening game, started the better and gained the upper hand in the opening exchanges. A quick free kick routine and a trio of counter attack moves presented themselves with good chances but none tested Jorden Gibson's goal. Their only chance that did hit the target within their good spell of pressure brought the goal when a corner was drilled to the edge of the penalty area and an onrushing midfielder smashed the ball into the top corner giving Gibson no chance.  Paul Attfield changed the team's formation after the goal and very slowly Ross Collins, Carl Edwards and Will Turl started pulling the strings in midfield to slowly take control f the game. Ricky Young got rugby tackled inside the penalty area when running towards goal but unbelievably the officials gave the offence on the edge of the penalty area despite Young ending up on the floor nearer to the six yard line!! Rob Gwynne, on his first team debut had a great chance when he latched onto Ross Collin's cross but was foiled by a good block by the keeper. Young and Will Turl both brought comfortable saved from the keeper before captain Ross Collins equalised on the half time whistle when he crisply volleyed in Young's cross from ten yards. Royston started the second half superbly with both Scott Crosk and Rob Gwynne striking the woodwork from good strikes. Crosk the converted a long throw from Grinham from a few yards out but this was inexplicably ruled out by an assistant's flag a later explanation coming that the ball had already crossed the line from the initial throw in. Jan Stephens brought a great diving block from the keeper from a fierce twelve yard volley before the introduction of Lewis Endacott and Russell Bull midway through the half proved pivotal in the final result. With twenty minutes remaining Endacott was fouled out wide and his excellent free kick was headed in by David Cain from eight yards. The hosts suddenly upped their game with a right wing cross just eluding the centre forward's outstretched foot before they got a lifeline with ten minuted remaining when Jim Hollingsworth hesitated on the ball eventually being dispossessed and tripping the forward for a penalty that was duly dispatched. The Crows found the energy to up another gear and won a penalty for themselves in the 85th minute when Endacott surged into the area and invited the foul that Russell Bull struck into the net corner. There was still time for another free kick to be won by Endacott and another sublime delivery was met at the far post by a thumping Will Turl header to complete the scoring and another superb result for The Crows.   Paul Attfield commented :" We should have been tired at some stage of the game but we got stronger as the game passed by. The energy and ball retention levels was of a very high quality and despite all our absentees and enforced changes we can still beat a very good technical side. We still have three very tough league games and a cup semi final to look forward to and whilst my target for the season has been achieved I sense this group of players want a little bit more !"   Team  -  Gibson  Grinham (Endacott)  Stephens  Hollingsworth  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Crosk  (Bull)  Young  Turl  Gwynne (McElvoy)  Unused  Mulvan

 

 

Dunstable Town      0-2      Royston Town

  As the race for high league positions intensifies this was an excellent win for Royston against one of their nearest rivals. On a difficult playing surface the visitors had enough chances in the first half to be comfortably in front but had to wait until first half injury time to take a deserved lead into the break. The second half was much tighter but a solid defencive and a late penalty gave The Crows a merited final scoreline. Royston came out for this game all guns blazing and could have been out of sight in the first half an hour. Some early long throws caused havoc in the home defence with Russell Bull and Will Turl causing severe aerial threats. Bull had the ball in the net after just four minutes from one such near post header with the referee harshly disallowing the effort for a supposed foul on the keeper. Moments later Bull cut inside from the right and unleashed a fierce twenty yard effort the struck the well beaten keeper's left post and rebounded back into play. Tom Malins had two great chances from crosses, one close range header clearing the crossbar and one eight yard effort from Lewis Endacott's cut back that was smothered by the keeper. The openings continued with Will Turl having a ten yard goal bound effort unknowingly blocked by a defender and Ross Collins smashing a twelve yard volley after a half clearance goal wards which somehow just stuck to the goalkeeper's chest from his dive. Dunstable offered little in attack from open play and looked more likely to score from set plays. Two near post headers from corners nearly brought reward with one flashing just over the angle of post and crossbar and another  being hacked off  the line by Endacott. Other than that Jorden Gibson was untroubled in open play with centre halves Nick Mulvaney and Dean McElvoy giving strong performances. As the first half looked like finishing surprisingly goal less Royston took the lead in added time when another Grinham long throw was headed on by Turl and Lewis Endacott smashed an angled volley in from ten yards. This gave the visitors good confidence going into the second half in what was a more open, even affair with few chances created. Dunstable had an justifiable penalty shout for handball against Grinham turned down early on in the half and wasted a couple of good openings without hitting the target or testing Gibson. Royston looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Bull volleying over from close range after some neat control and Tom Malins heading straight at the keeper from close range following a right wing cross. With the game finely poised Royston put the game to bed with eight minutes remaining. Another Grinham throw in was headed on by Ricky Young with ball striking the hand of a defender from the header and the penalty was awarded. Ryan Lockett smashed the ball down the middle of the goal and completed the scoring on a good night's work from Paul Attfield's side.   Paul Attfield commented : " We were very dominating in the first half and maybe we were just a little concerned that we hadn't taken more of some excellent chances we had created for ourselves in that period. We maintained great enthusiasm, momentum and team work rate throughout the second period and against a good side minimised good scoring opportunities which deserves great credit and I don't think anyone would deny us the margin of victory. It was an excellent all round show from the players."   Team  Gibson  Endacott  Grinham  Mulvaney (Cain)  McElvoy  Collins  Edwards  Bull (Young)  Turl  Lockett  Malins    - Unused : De Lacy,  Hollingsworth        

 

 

Royston Town      3-0      Biggleswade united  

This turned out to be a comfortable win in the sun for Royston in their penultimate home league game of the season as they maintained on course for a top six finish. Biggleswade turned up in  a lowly league position and throughout the game showed little attacking invention as Royston bossed throughout but often came up against a wall of defencive players which was hard to break down on a hot day. To be fair Royston played at a quick pace as much as they could creating a handful of chances in the first half but on occasions being let down with poor decision making or a final ball. Ryan Locket had the first chance early on when he just failed to connect with Tom Malin's cross at the far post and two home free kicks on the edge of the visiting penalty area were both placed weakly into the wall. Carl Edwards, Ross Collins and Ricky Young all had shots miss the target as did Will Turl who twice headed over with Royston failing to test the home keeper with the visitors best and only chance of the half coming from a close range header from a left wing cross that went well over. The much needed breakthrough arrived on 41 minutes when Ryan Lockett latched onto a cross field pass, outpaced the full back and slotted wide of the advancing keeper. The goal hardly sparked the visitors into life as the pattern in play continued in the second half. The early sending off of a visiting midfielder for a second bookable offence seemed to help everyone as Royston piled on continual pressure with the Biggleswade side trying hard to counterattack. The introduction of Russell Bull, returning after a three match ban was influential as he scored the important send goal mid way through the half with literally his first touch as he rammed a twelve yard strike from a tight angle into the far corner of the net. Bull then had a one on one effort blocked by the keeper before he headed Lockett's deep cross back across goal for Lewis Endacott to convert from close range to complete the scoring.  Royston keeper Jorden Gibson only had a 25 yard free kick to comfortably save in the second half as he was well protected throughout the game with Royston creating more chances to add to their tally but is was a good days work from Paul Attfield side   Team  Gibson  Endcaott  Grinham  Mulvaney  Hollingsworth  Collins  Edwards  Young (Bull)  Turl (Crosk)  Lockett  (Cain)  Malins - Unused  De Lacy  McElvoy   Paul Attfield commented :" Scoring the first goal was going to me the most important part of the game for us but the conditions were hard for the players. Once we got the goal and they had a player sent off it created more space for our attacking players and we probably should have scored  a few more by the end. I was pleased we maintained a good pattern and pace in our game for the most part and never let the game go flat" 

 

 

 

Royston Town Vets 6    Buntingford Town Vets 2                                              

Town Vets gave visitors Buntingford a two-goal lead but came back to run out 6-2 winners and avenge a defeat earlier in the season.

Town were slow to get into their stride and were punished by two quick goals by the visitors. A speculative effort from the right went over ‘keeper Simon Dobson’s head and into the net off the corner of the bar and upright. Town’s defence were caught square for the second goal as the Buntingford centre forward raced through the gap down the middle and had time to pick his spot to fire in.

Town soon reduced the arrears when Adam Smith floated a delightful ball over the Buntingford defence and found Peter Leete in space to lob the advancing ‘keeper. Town started to dominate possession and deservedly equalised when Nick Humphries was fouled in the box and Paul Lewis made no mistake from the spot kick.

Leete then scored the goal of the game to put Town ahead for the first time. The ball came to him at waist height and he unleashed an unstoppable right-foot volley past the ‘keeper.

In the second half Buntingford found the pace of Dave Daniels and Tony Cover difficult to deal with and numerous chances were created. Johnny Moulding scored Town’s fourth with a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area and Daniels’ outstanding performance was rewarded with two goals of his own late in the game.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, A. Smith, K Flack, M.Saggers, G.Pinner, M.McQueen, C.Silenti, N.Humphries, J.Moulding, P.Leete, P.Lewis, K.Barthrop, N.King, D.Daniels, T.Cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chatteris Town      3-4      Royston Town  

A strong second half come back from the young Crows saw them win an exciting game and a third victory in four games. After a good start Royston took a 22nd minute lead when Dan Banks-Smith slid in to convert a right wing cross from close range and moments later a Roger Skeggs header was tipped over the bar by the home keeper. In control of the game Royston then played a poor final 15 minutes in which they conceded three times to send them into the half time interval 3-1 down. A re-rejuvenated side appeared in the second period to largely control the game and a change of formation to 3-5-2 gave them midfield dominance which intensified the pressure. Chances were created at regular intervals with a second Royston goal arriving in  the 56th minute when George Duffin's dangerous cross was turned into his own net by a defender. Banks-Smith and Shane Carthy both went close with clear chances before Banks-Smith levelled with twenty minutes remaining when he run onto a loose ball in the box to fire into the net off the post. The visitors went for the win and with eight minutes left a superb eight pass team move ended with Shane Carthy firing home from ten yards a goal worthy of winning any game. The win sends The Crows up to fourth in the Ridgeons table with four games remaining in their season  

 



Wilbury Vets  1        Royston Town Vets 6                                          

Town Vets coasted to a comfortable 6-1 win over Wilbury Vets at Letchworth on Sunday.

With Peter Leete still nursing a knee injury it was Kevin Barthrop who partnered Paul Lewis upfront and the duo caused the hosts problems throughout the game.

Lewis put Town ahead after 10 minutes with a well-struck left foot volley but Wilbury equalised when Silenti was disposed on the edge of the penalty area and although ‘keeper Simon Dobson made a fine save from the first shot he could not prevent the follow-up effort.

Adam Smith swung a corner kick from the left into the six-yard area and when a defender cleared the ball to Barthrop he fired a brilliant first time shot into the roof of the net to restore Town’s lead. Lewis then latched on to a loose ball to beat the home ‘keeper again and Town ended the half with a 3-1 advantage.

Town dominated the second half and Nick Humphries completed a well-deserved hat-trick – the pick of which was a left foot volley from 18 yards. A hatful of other chances were created but somehow not converted. Dobson saved a late effort by a sporting Wilbury side and Town ran out convincing winners.     

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, N.King, A. Smith, K Flack, G.Pinner, M.McQueen, C.Silenti, N.Humphries, J.Moulding, K.Barthrop, P.Lewis, Sub: I.Allen.

 

 

KB Tyres Hertford & District Division I

League Cup Final

Royston Town ‘A’ 3         Cottered 1

Royston Town collected their first piece of silverware of the season at the County Ground, Letchworth last Friday evening with a convincing victory over Cottered by 3-1.

Earlier in the week the two club’s had met at Garden Walk in a League game which Royston led by 3-1 but Town threw away the chance to take all the points by conceding two late goals.

Royston therefore had the best possible incentive to put things right in the final and within minutes they took the lead after Skipper Lee Bates thumping header hit the post and James Bass tapped in the rebound.  Cottered gradually recovered from this early setback but could make any real impression on Town’s defence.  Five minutes before half-time Dan Crosk increased Royston’s lead with a superb free kick which nestled just inside the right hand post.

After the break Royston continued to dominate the game and the result was put beyond doubt when Kerry Chaffey latched onto a pass and beat the keeper from close range.  Cottered got a late consolation goal after a sloppy bit of defending gave keeper Ian Green no chance.  After the game Town’s manager Graham Hagger said “After the disappointment of Tuesday night we were determined to put things right and I was proud of the way we played and particularly pleased for Dan Crosk who picked up the Man of the Match Award”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kentish Town      0-3      Royston Town

  Royston's fine run of form continued as they made it nine wins from ten games at the Barnet Copthill Stadium on Wednesday evening. The pitch surface was never going to encourage good football but to be fair both teams played with good effort and made every attempt to get the ball down and play in the difficult conditions. Royston needed to start the game well with the surface condition always likely to deteriorate and they did just that with a goal within four minutes. Ryan Lockett's free kick was only half cleared to captain Ross Collins who struck in a sweet volley from 16 yards into the net via the post. Royston continued to control the game from then but on a couple of occasions they got caught with brisk counter-attack moves with one angled effort hitting the crossbar and another bringing a fine save from Jorden Gibson. The visitors on three occasions were thwarted by very dubious offside decisions but still created an abundance of chances. The trickery of Ricky Young created clear openings for Ryan Lockett and Will Turl but both shot weakly at the keeper and both had one on one chances with the keeper twice blocking running from his line. The second goal deservedly arrived on 30 minutes when Tom Malins reacted to some defencive hesitation to fire into the net off the keeper's body from ten yards. The second half continued in the same fashion with the visitors having more of the chances and possession with Kentish creating the odd good chance. Ross Collins shot over from close range from Lewis Endacott's long throw and Tom Malins's beat the keeper to the ball from Lockett's through ball but lobbed just over. Will Turl also missed out when he headed Lockett's corner over from eight yards. At the other end a header from a free kick was headed off the line by Danny Apostolos and another free header from a corner went just over. Despite those slight blemishes Royston always looked likely to score and they did again the 80th minute when Malin's long ball found Ryan Lockett who beat the keeper to the ball and lobbed into the empty net from 18 yards. Carl Edwards was unlucky not to add a fourth late on but his crisp twenty five yard effort was superbly tipped over the crossbar by the over-worked home keeper. Considering the unsavoury conditions this was a decent three points for Royston against opposition fighting against relegation which sees The Crows move up to fifth with two, three and four games in hand of all sides above them.   Paul Attfield commented - "The lads played with great enthusiasm and I felt played some decent football considering what that had to play on. The first goal was always going to be a big factor and to score so early after a brisk start was crucial. From then on we controlled the game with only the odd defencive blemish but I think the final outcome was a complete fair reflection of the game."   Team     Gibson  Endacott  Apostolos  Hollingsworth  McElvoy (Mulvaney)  Collins  Edwards  Young (Crosk)  Turl  Lockett  Malins  Unused : Grinham     

Stansted      0-5      Royston Town  

The Crows made the trip to Essex Senior League leaders Stansted on Thursday night intent on defending the trophy they won last season and left with an emphatic 5-0 scoreline. Whilst the hosts played a mix of first and reserve team players Paul Attfield fielded a very strong side that comfortably controlled the game from start to finish. The victory sets up a home semi-final clash with Oxhey Jets, a repeat of last year's final tie. The pace of the game started high but Royston soon started to control proceedings and the hosts very rarely threatened Jorden Gibson's goal. The opening goal came on 20 minutes when Ross Collin's quick free kick caught out the whole Stansted defencive unit and Tom Malins raced clear to convert. The Crows could have killed the game off in the first half but for some poor final passes or finishing although Malins and David Cain bought out fine saves from the home keeper. The quality was far better in the second half and the result was never in doubt when Malins scored his second in the 55th minute when he raced onto Ryan Lockett's through ball to shoot past the keeper. Will Turl's impressive display was rewarded with a fine goal when he held off a defender to shoot across the keeper and into the far corner from 16 yards. Royston looked as though they could score at will in the  remaining twenty minutes with both Ryan Lockett and Russell Bull hitting the woodwork with Bull scoring two goals late on with composed finishes to complete the scoring    Team Gibson  Endacott  Fehmi  Hollingsworth  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Young (Bull)  Turl  Lockett  (Crosk)  Malins  (Roach)  Unused  Apostolos 

Royston Town Vets 8       Litlington Vets  0   

Town Vets returned to winning ways with a comfortable 8-0 victory over Litlington in a sporting encounter played at Garden Walk.

The opening half hour was a close game with neither side being able to create many clearcut chances. The deadlock was broken when Peter Leete unleashed a fierce volley that sailed past the visitor’s ‘keeper to give Town the lead. Town were looking sound at the back with Mark Saggers marshalling his co-defenders Adam Smith, Kevin Flack and Geoff Pinner.

Town hit a purple patch when they scored three more goals in quick time. After a barren spell of late Paul Lewis opened his account when he cut in from the left, beat his defender and scored with a crisp right foot shot. He extended Town’s lead to three with a clinical finish and then completed his hat-trick with a deft (some would say lucky) flick that looped over the ‘keeper into the top corner of the goal. 

It was mostly one-way traffic in the second half with Town in control and the visitors continuing to battle against the odds. Town added a further 4 goals from Saggers, Nick Humphries and Dave Daniels (2) and could easily have had many more.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, A. Smith, K Flack, M.Saggers, G.Pinner, C.Silenti, M.McQueen, N.Humphries, D.Daniels, P.Leete, P.Lewis.  Subs (all used): B. Cannon, D.Cooper, N.King, I.Allen.

Royston Town      3-2      Hanwell Town  

In a game of twists and turns another win for The Crows moved them up to fourth place in the south Midlands Premier Division table after a tense affair at Garden Walk on Saturday afternoon. After a number of excellent, fluent performances just lately this was a game that Royston struggled to maintain any good control in, but their excellent fighting spirit saw them ride some luck and come from behind to nick the three points from their technically good West London opposition. Royston actually had their best period in the opening stages with captain Ross Collins having three excellent scoring opportunities in the opening fifteen minutes. In just the second minute he raced onto Ricky Young's through ball but fired weakly wide and then headed a deep free kick onto the roof of the net. From Ashley Grinham's long throw Collin's reacted quickest in the box but poked his shot wide of the target. In between those chances Blaise O'Brien reacted to some Royston hesitation to fire in an angled shot that Jorden Gibson blocked with his legs. Royston took the lead in the 22nd minute when Lewis Endacott's superbly delivered free kick was headed in by centre half Dean McElvoy at the far post but the lead only lasted two minutes. Royston conceded two corners straight from scoring their goal and from the second one the Hanwell centre half rose unchallenged to powerfully header home from eight yards. This subjected the hosts into a nervous period where they too often gave up cheap possession and allowed the lively visiting attacking unit some good opportunities with a number of uncharacteristic passes and mistakes creating self inflicted pressure. Gibson had to make another two very good saves too keep the scoreline level with the home side welcoming the half time interval. Unfortunately for Royston they continued to look lethargic in the opening period of the second half and were soon on the back foot again defensively. Mistakes continued in the home ranks and from one Hanwell took the lead in the 55th minute when the hosts gave the ball away in midfield and a simple through ball was latched onto by the centre forward who easily converted past the exposed Gibson. Manager Paul Attfield immediately made a double substitution with Ryan Lockett and Will Turl entering the fray in a change of formation that really opened the game up. Attfield gambled with a three man defence against the lively Hanwell forwards and in the five minutes following the changes Hanwell could have finished the game. Three more very presentable chances were wasted and the Hanwell appeals for a penalty against McElvoy's challenge within that period of chances were seemingly justified as well. Very gradually the home side adjusted to their extra forward player and started to get some stability in their play to cause the visitors some problems. Ryan Lockett had a 25 yard free kick saved low down by the keeper and a brisk team move saw Lockett free in the area but he delayed his final decision too long and the keeper blocked his final tame effort. This livened up the 200 strong home support and Royston got their reward mid way through the half when Carl Edwards raced into the area to claim a loose ball and was bundled over by the keeper with Ryan Lockett smashing home the resulting penalty kick , Royston's first success from the spot in five attempts. This gave the hosts impetus to push on and five minutes later they grabbed the all important fifth goal of the game when Lockett's driven corner was powerfully headed home by Tom Malins at the far post. Royston reverted back to their normal formation and looked defensively more solid with any other Hanwell chances being more half chances than clear ones and Will Turl could have extended his side's lead by more late on but he just failed to get good connection after lobbing the keeper from a loose ball and the last defender hacked away the ball too eliminate the danger. The win gives Royston 24 points from the last 27 possible and with Chalfont St Peter drawing a tight game at Dunstable Town The Crows are now looking to close a twelve point deficit with two games in hand still   Paul Attfield commented :" I think we were probably due a slightly below par performance but I was disappointed with our overall ball retention which put us under so much unneccessary pressure. We had to really dig in deep right around the pitch and I felt at 2-1 down it would just be one of those days. I think the changes we made certainly helped us in attacking areas but we still struggled maintaining the ball and the openness of the game meant it could of quite easily finished 6-6 in the end. One thing we have struggled to do this season is grind out results but we managed to do that today and it is a big three points for us."   Team  Gibson  Grinham (Robins)  Apostolos  Mulvaney (Turl)  McElvoy  Collins  De Lacy (Lockett)  Malins  Young  Edwards  Endacott   Unused : Fehmi  Cain   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leverstock Green      1-5    Royston Town  

In fairness this was a thrashing of the highest order as royston gave a scintilating football show of the highest order to walk away from pancake lane with another three points and fifth place in the league table. From the very start, on leverstock greens slick, wet playing surface the ball was fizzed around the whole playing area with great skill and precision which the hosts never really got to grips with. After early pressure became more intense Royston took a ninth minute lead when Ryan Lockett's corner landed around the six yard box and centre half Nick Mulvaney converted through a crowd of players and through the goalkeeper's hands for his first goal for the club. Mulvaney went close twice more again both from Lockett set plays before a quick counter-attack move down the right ended with Lewis Endacott crossing fro Carl Edwards to strike home from twelve yards. Tom Malins had an effort well saved by the keeper and also had the ball in the net from another Lockett corner but the referee ruled it out for pushing and Lewis Endacott has a vicious ten yard strike cleared off the line after being set up by Mulvaney. Try as they might the hosts just couldn't make any impression on the Royston defensive third with the new found experience of Nick Mulvaney and Dean McElvoy as centre halves particulary eye catching. Royston continued to press and deservedly added a third on 35 minutes ehn Mulvaney's lobbed forward ball from defence was inch perfect for Lewis Endacott ro run behind the home back line and lob over the stranded keeper. The visitor's only blemish came just before half time when a few minutes of sloppiness allowed some late half pressure and in that time Conwat headed home a flighted left wing cross from ten yards. Jorden Gibson made his only match save in the first minute of the second half when he comfortably held another Conway header from close range before Royston then took complete control of the game again. Ricky Young ran clean through an had his drilled effort superbly saved but a fourth goal was on the cards and arrived on 61 minutes when Tom Malins stooped low to head in Ross Collins's cross. Malins then ran clear with his effort also being superbly saved before Ryan Lockett completed the scoring with the goal of the night when he crashed a 30 yard free kick into the top corner of the goal with the home keeper motionless.   Paul Attfield commented : "When we play like we did tonight you just have to stand back and admire, we were awesome and should have won the game by more. The composure on the ball from every position contributed to a mass of overwheming attacking moves and seeing five different players on the score sheet again impresses me greatly . I expected a tough, tight game tonight but I have to say the players made it look very easy at times and deserve massive credit."   Team - Gibson  Grinham (Hollingsworth)  Apostolos  Mulvaney  McElvoy (Cain)  Collins  Edwards  Endacott  Young (Bull)  Lockett  Malins   Unused : Fehmi, De Lacy     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hemingford Vets  3            Royston Town Vets 2                  

Town Vets were unlucky to come away from St Ives with a 3-2 defeat in a sporting game against Hemingford Vets.

Town had the best of possession in the first 15 minutes but found themselves one down to virtually the first attack from Hemingford. The ball was crossed from the left wing and headed in over Simon Dobson into the top right hand corner of the goal. The hosts then extended their lead following a long ball down the middle that found Town’s defence square and the centre forward poked the ball past the advancing Dobson.

Strikers Peter Leete and Paul Lewis both had good openings but could not finish. Town did reduce the arrears when Geoff Pinner won the ball on the half-way line and put Leete away for a cross into the box. The home defence could only knock the ball out to John Moulding who fired in for his first goal for Town Vets.

Town dominated the second half and created a number of good chances but again could not finish and it was Hemingford who scored next from a breakaway to extend their lead to 3-1.

Matt McQueen scored from close range to put Town within one goal of the hosts and after a number of near misses there was a good claim for handball in the box by a home defender.  The penalty claim was turned down by the referee and despite all their best efforts Town could not find the equaliser.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, J Moulding, K Flack, B. Cannon, G.Pinner, K.Barthrop, C.Silenti, M.McQueen, N.Humphries, P.Leete, P.Lewis.  Subs (all used): T.Cover, N.King, I.Allen.

 

 


Hillingdon Borough      0-4      Royston Town

  Royston's fine run of form and results continued in Hillingdon on Saturday afternoon with the visitors chalking up a sixth victory from seven games played. Paul Attfield showed the enviable depth in his squad by making seven changes from the side that won at Haringey Borough on Thursday evening and his side made the job of winning this game substantially easier for themselves with a good opening period that saw them race into a two goal lead within the first ten minutes. In the fifth minutes Arin Fehmi picked up the ball just inside the Boro half and drifted inside before unleashing a stunning 30 yard effort the flew past the despairing dive of the keeper and into the net. Russell Bull then brought a smart block from the keeper and Ashley Grinham then brought an even better save from the home custodian as he tipped over an angled pile-driver. From the resulting Ryan Lockett corner in the tenth minute teenager Scott Crosk timed his run to perfection to glance a header into the net at the near post. Royston then seemed content to soak up home pressure that made good inroads into the visiting defencive third but failed to create clear chances. A number of corners and open play crosses were amicably dealt with with the centre half pairing of Nick Mulvaney and Jim Hollingsworth looking particularly solid. For all their neat approach play Boro only created one clear chance just before half time when a left wing cross found its way to the far post where an close range angled drive was well blocked by Jorden Gibson. Royston continued to lack momentum in the early exchanges of the second half with the game maintaining the same pattern with Boro having positive possession but failing to create any chances. Paul Attfield made three early changes and switched the teams formation to 4 4 2 which paid instant dividends and helped the visitors control the  final thirty minutes with chances gradually presenting themselves. Russell Bull failed to connect with two excellent crosses before Ricky Young added the side's first and his first goal of 2010 when he did meet Tom Malin's cross with a blistering 12 yard half volley that arrowed into the roof of the net. Space opened out for the Royston side as they continued to have their best period of possession and Malins completed the scoring with twenty minutes remaining when his central 25 yard free kick crept inside the keeper's near post. Bull and Malins both brought further saves from the keeper with the hosts losing their self discipline with a number of crude challenges resulting in four second half cautions. Boro had the chance of a late consolation when Crosk was failed by an opposite number but amazingly the referee awarded a penalty kick but Gibson made justice from the decision by guessing right and blocking the resulting kick to help maintain a deserved clean sheet      Paul Attfield - "We done enough without being spectacular and probably the two early goals allowed the team to play within themselves which invited some unneccessary pressure at times. We decided to swap players and the formation early in the second half and that helped us gain the initiative which we did well and we created some reasonable chances. I was particulary pleased with the way we defended and we have looked more solid as a unit over the last few games with higher concentration levels erasing the goals conceded."   Team - Gibson  Grinham (Endacott)  Fehmi  Mulvaney  Hollingsworth  Cain  Collins (Edwards)  Crosk  Bull  Lockett (Malins)  Young  Unused : Apostolos   

 

 

 

 

 

19 March Bourne Town U18's 0-3 Royston Town U18's

Royston made the long journey to Bourne Town to compete in their first competitive league game since the 23rd November and came back with a well deserved 3 points. The first goal came midway through the opening half with a perfectly delivered free kick by Michael Pinner finding the head of Dan Banks-Smith who powered home from 6 yards. Royston played with great momentum throughout the half and really should of been 3 goals up. New signing Ryan Ingrey excelled on his debut and strike partner Banks-Smith both had glorious chances to put the game to bed. However it was Ingrey who played a key part in the second goal as his trickery down the left saw his pin point cross find the head of Marvin Luzinda who intelligently headed to Roger Skeggs who smashed home to give his side a 2 goal cushion. Royston pushed on and forced two good saves from the home keeper but it was Skeggs who finished the game off after his dazzling run down the left was too hot to handle for his opponents who blasted home from 16 yards.

Thompson, Noades, Pinner, Cooper (captain), Lees, Lee-Stevens, Reed, Luzinda, Skeggs, Banks-Smith, Ingrey. Subs all used: Cordoro, Hodgson, Beck

 

Haringey Borough      1-4      Royston Town  

Royston made it five wins from six games in a twelve day period, this being a good, solid team performance on a difficult evening. Gusty winds and driving rain with a hard bobbly pitch made it difficult for the players and after the exertions of the game at home to Aylesbury 48 hours earlier the side did very well. Paul Attfield gave a debut to Dean McIlroy at the heart of the defence and the opening stages saw all players trying to come to terms with the erratic nature of the pitch surface. Royston eased their way into the game trying to play their normal free flowing passing game and after a good period of pressure took the lead on 20 minutes. A long ball forward from defence saw the visiting keeper handle the ball outside the area under pressure from Tom Malins which saw referee Mr Starr produce a straight red card. Ryan Lockett punished the offence further by rasping the 20 yard free kick into the bottom corner. Two minutes later the lead was extended when a sweeping move from their own half ended with Lockett angling a pass into the path of Lewis Endacott who struck a fine twelve strike into the net via the crossbar. Endacott was unlucky not to have another minutes later when another angled shot across the keeper hit the far post and rebounded into play. In complete ascendancy and control Royston had a crazy five minutes before half time as they completely undone their good work with a really slopp period of possession and basic football. This was compounded more when Lloyd Opara skipped though the defence to score past Damion Williamson in first half injury time. Parity was restored in the second half with Royston dominating from the off and within five minutes a hopefull ball into the area by Endacott dropped under the cross bar and into the far corner. The stand in keeper then made superb saves from an Endacott header and a Russell Bull close range strike with Endacott also hitting the outside of the post for a second time from a left footed strike. The scoring was completed with fifteen minutes remaining when Ricky Young was hauled down in the box for a stonewall penalty. Endacott had is initial effort saved but the referee ordered a re take for encroachment. The same player had his second effort also saved but followed up to scramble the rebound into the net via the inside of the post. Haringey to their crdit never gave up running and created a few half chances that never really tested keeper Damion Williamson with the victory moving Royston into 6th place in the table.   Team  Williamson  Grinham (Stephens)  Apostolos  McIlroy  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Malins (Wilkinson)  Young  Lockett (Bull)  Endacott   Paul Attfield commented : "The lads grafted well. We always had good control of the game after the sending off apart from the minutes leading upto half time. The goal just after half time was crucial for us which reinstalled our double goal cushion and from then on we dominated and could have won by a bigger margin."   

Royston Town      1-2      Aylesbury  

These two sides turned in a cracking game of football, one which Royston will feel very hard done by that they didn't at least come out of it with a draw. Aylesbury had much the better of the first half as Royston struggled to find the momentum of the previous few games. The pace of the visiting forwards and wide men often made in-roads deep into home territory and after early pressure one such foraging run by the forward saw him erecklessly tackled in the area for a stone wall penalty which was duly converted. The lead could have been added to but Royston were dealt a blow in the 40th minute when Russell Bull was dismissed for a lunge at a defender which saw him shown a straight red card. This was compounded further within two minutes when defensive hesitation let in a forward who deftly lobbed into the unguarded net. The hosts got a lifeline within first half stoppage time when their only decent delivery into the box of the half was superbly headed into the top corner by Tom Malins with Ricky Young supplying the cross. To their credit Royston had a real go in the second half as the visiting side looked more nervous as the half progressed. Brisk, sharp approach play saw chances created with Collins, Mulvaney and Lockett all going close. Aylesbury hit The Crows on a few counter attacks but never tested Gibson in goal. Royston's persistence earnt themselves a penalty in the 80th minute when Collins was pulled back in the area which saw numbers evened up by the official who sent of the visiting full back. Arin Fehmi's well placed spot kick was superbly stopped dead by a one handed keeping block by the left post. Both teams had one last chance to score with an Aylesbury lobbed effort bouncing off the pitch onto the crossbar and another Fehmi raid saw his clipped lob hit the crossbar also.   Paul Attfield commented : " I think Aylesbury are by far the best side we have played this season and in both games we should have got and deserved something from the games. I felt the lads were superb in the second half and dominated that period, playing with no fear and lesser performances than we gave tonight have won us games in this league this season. "   

  Royston Town      3-1      Langford  

Royston won their fourth game in eight days so making it twelve points from a possible twelve and elevating them to seventh place in the table with games in hand of all the sides above them still. Paul Attfield will be delighted with his sides miraculous run of form this week and Saturday's game against Langford was a workmanlike, gutsy showing as players tiredness from the week's playing demands looked to take some toll in the second half, but the battling qualities were always evident. The Royston boss introduced ex Town favourite Jim Hollingsworth to his squad this week and he was given a 25 minute second half run out on his return. The first 45 minutes was a good one to watch, full of effort and swift attacking football. Langford started at an electric pace and within the first minute a forward brought a fine finger tip save from Jorden Gibson from 16 yards and also won a couple of early corners. Royston gradually eased their way into the game and an early 25 yard Ryan Lockett free kick brought an diving save out of the Langford keeper. The host's pressure intensified and they took the lead in the 14th minute when Lewis Endacott's quick throw found the run of captain Ross Collins and he didn't need to break stride as he struck a twelve yard strike into the far corner. Three minutes later and it was two goals for Royston. Again a long Lewis Endacott clearance caught Langford terribly square in defence and Russell Bull raced clear to slip the ball under the advancing keeper. The Crows continued to create chances in a purple patch. Bull identically raced clear soon after but the keeper blocked off for a corner and from the Lockett corner Bull headed onto the face of the crossbar and back into play. Moments later a hopefull Royston free kick was inexplicably fumbled by the Langford keeper with the ball hitting the inside of the post and rolling across the goal-line. The keeper recovered sufficiently enough to toe the ball away from the lunging Bull and Lockett to save his embarrassment. Royston fully deserved their half time advantage and did well enough to score third goal in the 57th minute when Ryan Lockett's well delivered corner eluded the keeper's jump and centre half David Cain headed into the net at the far post for his fouth goal in four games. Cain could have scored an identical goal minutes later from  a similar corner but failed to get good enough connection on the ball and it missed the target. Ryan Lockett has a presentable chance with 20 minutes remaining when he raced clear but took his shot early and fired wide from 20 yards. Langford rallied late on as the toll on previous games starting to take it's toll on tired player limbs but as a unit the hosts defended well and never looked like relinquishing their advantage. Gibson made one smart save low to his left and a twenty yard free kick flashed a ard wide of the post before Langford scored a late consolation when Lockett was harshly adjudged of handling in the area and Lee Harman converted the spot kick to complete the day's scoring   Team  -  Gibson  Endacott  Apostolos  Grinham (Hollingsworth)  Cain  Collins (Edwards)  De Lacy  Young  Bull (Crosk)  Lockett  Fehmi    - Unused  Malins  Mulvaney   Paul Attfield comented - " The way the game panned out was superb for us. We always suspected tiredness would play a part second half so we needed to start well. We forced the running well early on and to get two goals was very good and we could of quite easily added a few more. When we had to defend in the second half we did so very well, without having to search for goals and the lads deserve great credit for getting all twelve points available this week"    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royston Town      2-0      Broxbourne Borough

  The team put on one of their brightest and collectively best performances of the season to gain a third victory in five days on Thursday evening. Paul Attfield's side showed no sign of fatigue as they domianted for the most part of the contest and their dominance could and should have seen them win by a larger margin. From the first whistle the hosts played with vigour and style with a number of pacey, crafted attacks creating chances at regular intervals. An early, superbly delivered free kick from Ryan Lockett was aking to be converted but Arin Fehmi's stooping header was blocked at point blank range by the keeper. Minutes later Lewis Endacott's quickly taken free kick found Lockett in space in the area but his scuffed left footer was smothered low down by the visiting stopper. Russell Bull had a trio of presentable opportunities with two angled drives from inside the area missing the target and another lofted ball into the box found The Crow's front marksman but as he beat the keeper to the ball his lob landed on the roof of the net. Broxbourne struggled to cope with Royston's sheer intensity and never gained any control of the game. Their own and only chance of the game came just before half time whena  free header from a left sided cross was headed straight at Damion Williamson which was a real let off. The Crows continued to dominate the second half but continued to miss chances as they piled on relentless pressure. Arin Fehmi shot wide from six yards after being set up by Russell Bull, Ross Collins headed just wide from a Lewis Endacott cross and Ryan Lockett had two long rangers directed at the keeper and one superb 25 yard volley flash just over the crossbar. The deserved goal finally arrived on 71 minues when David Cain headed home Arin Fehmi's superbly whipped in corner. Russell Bull then volleyed Fehmi's cross onto the post with Cain just missing the rebound from close range and Lockett brought a fine block from the keeper as he raced clear on goal. Despite throwing more players forward and driving long balls forward Broxbourne failed to breach the home sides defensive unit and the scoring was completed on the 90 minute mark. Ricky Young and Russell Bull worked a quick short corner routine and the ball was pulled back to Ashley Grinham on the edge of the area who cracked in a superb high drive inside the keeper's near post.   Paul Attfield commented ; " I thought we were tremendous. I am astounded that the player's could find the energy levels they did for as long as they did considering this was our third game in five days but we were relentless throughout. Our general footballing display was definately up there with the best this season and the I am equally pleased we were able to keep a clean sheet which is something we have not managed for a very long time."     Team  Williamson  Endacott  Apostolos  Grinham  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Malins  (Crosk)  Bull  Lockett  Fehmi (Young)  Unused - Stephens  De Lacy  Gibson 

Royston Town      6-1      Oxhey Jets  

Royston built on their fine victory against Welwyn Garden City on Saturday with a thumping home victory over midtable Oxhey Jets. With both teams having played 4 games in the previous week it was Royston who looked sharper and fitter all over the pitch and the final scoreline was fully justified as Paul Attfield's team played with fluency throughout the game. The home side settled early and took the lead in just the 7th minute when David Cain rose high to head in Luke Robin's corner at the far post. Further half chances were created and a deserved second goal settled the team further in the 23rd minute when a fine move down the left was scrambled clear to Carl Edward who struck powerfully into the corner of the net from 16 yards. Oxhey also played good football but lacked any creativity in the final third of the pitch with centre halves Ashley Grinham and David Cain playing fine games to help minimise to half chances mainly outside the penalty area. Cain, Ricky Young and Luke Robins all had further chances before the break to extend the lead but the good double cushion meant that Royston could go into the second half with confidence which they did. Jorden Gibson made one good early save and another effort was scrambled clear by the defence but that for the visitors was as good as it got really as the game slowly drifted completely away from them. Royston had to wait until mid way through the half to extend the lead further when another corner caused defensive havoc and Ross Collins rammed home the loose ball high into the net from ten yards. Oxhey got their consolation goal moments later when a 25 yard shot took a freakish deflection to wrong foot Gibson and the ball trickled into the net but Royston replied hard with an excelled period of crisp, precise football that saw them grab three more goals before the end. Arin Fehmi and Russell Bull added goals four and six with composed finishes from one on one situations and Carl Edwards grabbed the fifth in between bundling the ball in from close range following another set play .

  Team  Gibson  Endacott  Fehmi  Grinham  Cain  Collins  Edwards  De Lacy  Young  (Bull) Malins  Robins (Apostolos)   Unused  Lockett 

Welwyn Garden City      2-5      Royston Town  

Royston put their recent run of indifferent results behind them with a determined tem performance seeing them gain a 5-2 victory against basement side Welweyn Garden City. The hosts have gone through a recent management change bringing new players and ideas to the basement club but Royston controlled the majority of this fixture with some exceptional finishing helping them towards an impressive tally of five. Paul Attfield shuffled his pack again as the side competed its fourth game in eight days. Jorden Gibson, Tom Malins, Carl Edwards and Ben Stocker were all ommited from the squad having played a big part of the previous three fixtures. The uneven pitch was never going to encourage good quality football but to their credit both teams tried to play a high paced attractive game throughout with six goals served up in the first half alone. Set plays were the order of the first three goals in the opening twelve minutes. The hosts took the lead on five minutes when the Royston defence were not strong enough dealing with a long throw into the six yard box and the ball was eventually rammed home from close range. The lead only lasted a meer minute as Royston won a corner straight from the kick off and Ryan Lockett's driven delivery was flicked on by a defender at the near post into his own net. This gave Royston good momentum with open play and set play crosses causing plenty of problems. Another free kick on the right from Luke Robins in the twelth minute was bundle in by Lewis Endacott at the near post. Moments later another corner from Lockett was by Ricky Young's glancing header which bounced off the top of the crossbar  and off for a goal kick. Against the run of play Wlewyn got back level on the half hour mark when Royston didnt get tight enough to players in a left sided build up and a floated cross was chested down and volleyed under Richard Barlow's dive. The lead was short lived as Royston regained the initiative within a minute with an outstanding finish. A long ball was headed out to the edge of the area where full back Ashley Grinham cracked a left foot volley into the top right hand corner. The quality of the strike was matched equally by another five minues later when Arin Fehmi's long diagonal ball was volleyed agressively past the keeper from 16 yards by Lewis Endacott. Leading comfortably at the interval Royston continued to show good dominance in the opening stages of the second half with Conor De Lacy and Ross Collins in particular from central midfield positions looking solid. Shooting into a terrible ragged half of ground it wasn't easy to create clear chnaces but Ryan Lockett and Ricky Young both went close and Russell Bull brought a stunning goalkeeping tip over from ten yards. Lockett completed the scoring mid way through the half converting from ten yards after the hosts made of hash of clearing another free kick into the area. A flurry of substitutes by Attfield and the loss of centre half Nick Mulvaney to injury after the mandatory three allowed meant Royston had to play the final fifteen minutes with ten men but they never looked in any danger of relinquishing their advantage and a welcome three points was greeted at the full time whistle.   Paul Attfield commented - " We have had a disappointing run of results but our general play and effort shown in most of the games we have dropped points has been very good.  Our play for the most part today was just as precise and determined but we took the majority of the chances we created today and maybe in games lately that hasn't been the case. It is hard for the players to get collective understanding of each other's games when I have to keep rotating them around on the pitch each game due to our herendous fixture back log, but if we continue to maintain the levels we met today I am very confident results will get better and more consistent."   Team  Barlow  Grinham  Fehmi  Mulvaney  Cain  Collins  De Lacy  Endacott (Wilkinson)  Young  Lockett (Dolan)  Robins (Bull)    Unused:  Gibson  Jones     



Royston Town Vets 3       Goldin Old Boy Vets 2      

Town Vets did it the hard way again when coming from 2 goals down to beat Goldin Old Boys 3-2.

The visitors settled more quickly on a frozen pitch and deservedly scored twice in the first 15 minutes. Town gradually began to get their passing game going and started to threaten the visitors’ goal. Kevin Barthrop was put through by Peter Leete down the right and as he cut into the penalty area he was tripped from behind and Paul Lewis coolly slotted home the resultant penalty. On the stroke of half time a high ball into the Royston Penalty area caught out Bathrop who handled the ball, Dobson in the Royston goal kept his side in the game with a comfortable save from the penalty.

Town dominated the second half and created a hatful of chances. Nick Humphries found himself in good goal-scoring positions on a number of occasions and missed most until finally he scored from close range to give Town the equaliser. Town’s winner came from Geoff Pinner who pressed forward from left back and as the ball broke to him on the left of the six yard area he drove it firmly past the ‘keeper.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, N.King, A. Smith, K Flack, G.Pinner, K.Barthrop, J.Moulding, N.Humphries, T.Cover, P.Leete, Subs (all used) C.Silenti, R.Perrett, I.Allen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royston Town    3-3  Brimsdown Rovers  

This game summed up the rut that Royston have galvanised for themselves as a dominating display for the most part was matched by more defensive frailties with Brimsdown thinking it must of been Christmas with the gifts The Crows side offered in a six minute period at the end of the first half. Royston steamrolled the opening stages with wave after wave of sublime attacks from all positions with the visitors frequently defending for dear life. The early domination saw Royston take an 11th minute lead with Tom Malins and Ryan Lockett combining down the right to present a half opprtunity for Russell Bull who sent a spectacular over head kick into the net. Chnaces continued to come with Luke Robins firing over from close range when he should have really hit the target, Ryan Lockett having two efforts blocked on the line and Russell Bull hitting the goalkeeper's body from a close range header. Whilst the score was only one there had to be an element of caution but no one in the ground could have forseen the carnage Royston created for themselves approaching half time. Out of nothing a high, hopefull right wing cross in the 35th minute was just inexpicably missed by Jorden Gibson allowing a simple finish. This stunned the hosts as it was literally the first time in open play Brimsdown had reached THE Crows penalty area but just two minutes later they were behind. The Brimsdown right midfielder was allowed too much space to get down to the goal line past weak challenges and a pulled back ball found a player on the edge of the area who unleashed a simple finish without any attempt of a shut down challenge. Three minutes later and it went from bad to worse with a needless free kick given out wide. The ball in was not superb but when A Royston player headed the ball on a Brimsdown player was found in acres of space at the far post to convert. Despite Royston's domination only three first half efforts from the visitors had all be converted. Paul Attfield swiftly changed the team formation at the interval replacing defender Lewis Endacott with forward Ricky Young and again for the opening stages Royston excelled and six minutes into the restart they reduced the arrears. Ricky Young got fouled some thirty yards out and his quick free kick caught the visitors knapping as Bull raced away to slot past the exposed keeper. Moments later an outstanding 25 yard free kick from Ryan Lockett was tipped over superbly by the keeper and from the corner Bull looped a header onto the net. From another free kick momets later a part cleared ball was played back into the area and centre half Ben Stocker shot tamely wide when well positioned. Royston sensed nervousness and were level on 60 minutes again Ricky Young did well on the right and his low cross was dive headed in at the near post by Tom Malins. Strangely the game lost its momentum from then as continuing pressing from the hosts was not matched by the earlier creativity levels. Brimsdown's time wasting antics and an extended break due to an injury to referee Crawford did not help Royston's cause but bothe teams had one excllent chance to win it in stoppage time. Ricky Young broke the offside trap and rounded the keeper with his pull back presenting an opportunity for Luke Robins but the off balance Russell Bull took the effort away from Robins with the ball weakly going wide. Moments later at the other end Brimsdown won a corner which was not cleared and the forward mis kicked the ball from 4 yards and fortunately Tom Mlains was able to block on the line. Overall another committed dispaly from Royston but it's now five games without a win and this will be viewed as another two points thrown away   Team Gibson Endacott (Young) Apostolos Stocker Jones De Lacy (Collins) Edwards Malins Bull Lockett Robins  Subs Unused : Crosk Fehmi Cain   Paul Attfield commeneted : " Once again the lads have given everything but not got out of the game what they should have. We had opportunities to kill the game completely off in the first 25 minutes and then committed general suicide defensively. The goals we conceded were just inexplicable and I'm quite frankly getting fed up with saying that on a continual basis. To be fair we got a good response after half time and the lads did well to get back on terms but we will continue to drop points whilst we make the mistakes we do and we simply are not learning from past games."          



Buckden Vets   2   Royston Town Vets 4                  

Town Vets came from 2 goals down to overcome a much improved Buckden on the all-weather surface at Hinchingbrooke School on Sunday.

Town found it difficult on the artificial surface to get a toehold in the game and fell behind after 15 minutes when the hosts took advantage of a square defence to leave ‘keeper Simon Dobson with no chance to save. Buckden went further ahead soon after when Dobson failed to collect the ball wide on the right hand side of the goal area and an opposing forward dispossessed him and fired across the vacant goalmouth for a colleague to slot home. Dobson brought off a fine save to ensure Town did not fall further behind.  Although Town started to create a few openings themselves the final ball was not good enough to cause any alarms for the home defence and the half ended with Town two goals down.

Manager Terry Gore brought on Mark Saggers and Dave Daniels for the second half and the changes brought a complete change around in the game. Town dominated possession and with Saggers controlling the back line and the pace of Daniels causing all sorts of problems for the Buckden defence it was not long before Town reduced the arrears. Adam Smith delivered an excellent cross into the six-yard area and Leete controlled and lashed the ball home. Within 5 minutes Town were level when Carlo Silenti volleyed in from close range following good work from Nick Humphries down the left. Daniels had a number of mazy runs but could not find the finish and it was left to Leete and Silenti to add further goals to seal an excellent performance against a very competitive Buckden side.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, A. Smith, K Flack, N.King, G.Pinner, K.Barthrop,

M. McQueen, C.Silenti, N.Humphries, P.Leete, P.Lewis, Subs (all used) M.Saggers, D.Daniels, I.Allen.

 

 

 

 

 

Royston Town 0-5 Wroxham

Wroxham started the brighter in this FA Vase 5th round tie at Garden Walk taking the lead in the third minute. Wroxham’s Steve Spriggs was played in down the right hand side and his powerful shot from a tight angle managed to beat Royston keeper Jorden Gibson. Royston picked up their game after this early set back and began to play some good football but with no end results. Throughout the first half Wroxham looked more likely to score winning four corners and having three shots on target. The second half started much the same as the first half with Wroxham quick out of the blocks and Spriggs scoring his second on 50 minutes. The now deflated Royston took another hit two minutes later on the fifty second minute when Danny White finished off a good piece off attacking play by Wroxham. Royston manager Paul Attfield then looked to steady the ship on 65 minutes by making a double substitution with Tom Malins and Russell Bull coming on for Carl Edwards and Ricky Young but two minutes later Royston defender David Cain gave away a penalty for a push in the box. White stepped up to take the penalty which Gibson turned on to his right hand post only to see the ball roll along the goal line and cross the line off his left hand post. On 70 minutes Royston striker Will Turl forced a good save from Wroxham keeper Scott Howie. Wroxham substitute Matt Daniels made it five on 80 minutes to hammer the final nail in Royston’s coffin. Royston’s afternoon was summed up on 83 minutes after they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Turl. Winger Luke Robins stepped up to take the penalty only to see his weak attempt well saved by Howie.          

Goal scorers:                                                                              

Steve Spriggs – 3 minutes - Wroxham

Steve Spriggs – 50 minutes - Wroxham

Danny White – 52 minutes - Wroxham

Danny White – 80 minutes - Wroxham

Matt Daniels – 83 minutes - Wroxham



Half Time Score – Royston Town 0-1 Wroxham

Attendance – 650

Star Man – Paul Cook (Wroxham)

Entertainment Rating – 4/5



Royston Town Vets 4     Cambridge Vets 1             

Town Vets came from a goal down to beat old rivals Cambridge Vets 4-1 but for much of the game it proved a struggle to gain the supremacy.

Steve Fallon made an assured debut in the back four for the Vets against his former team. 

Few openings were created in the first 15 minutes but after Town had brought a save from the visiting ‘keeper it was Cambridge who took the lead with a well-taken volley past Town’s ‘keeper Simon Dobson. Town then attacked down the right and when the ball rebounded to Peter Leete on the edge of the goal area he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net to give Town the equaliser. Town looked the more likely team to score again and after Matt McQueen was upended in the box a penalty was awarded but Paul Lewis missed from the spot – his 1st spot kick miss for the Vets. When another chance was made for Town just before half-time Leete slotted home from close range to give Town the lead.

Most of the second half became a stalemate with play condensed into the middle third of the pitch. With fifteen minutes left Town extended their lead with a well-worked goal from Dave Daniels and following good work by Lewis down the left his cross into the six-yard area was slotted home by Tony Cover to extend the lead to a winning 4-1 margin.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, A. Smith, K Flack, S.Fallon, G.Pinner, D.Daniels, M. McQueen, C.Silenti, N.Humphries, P.Leete, P.Lewis, Subs (all used) K.Barthrop, A.Cover, S.Holden, I.Allen.

Town are at home to Therfield Fox & Duck on Sunday.    

 

 

Royston Town      3-2      Harefield United  

The Crows finally fulfilled their first league fixture of the new year and 60 days after their last one they recorded an excellent narrow victory over an inform Harefield United side courtesy of David Cain's injury time header. Paul Attfield's side went into the game without a game for two weeks whilst Harefield arrived on the back of seven straight victories and both teams tried to play fluent attacking football throughout the game despite the Garden Walk pitch not looking the greatest. The tempo of the play was attractive throughout despite the irritating refereeing performance that constantly frustrated the players with continual decision making, baffling all present at the game, eight cautions were shown in the very well fought out contest of which Royston received six. Royston started the better and in the opening exchanges both Ryan Lockett and Ross Collins shot over the crossbar from good positions and Lockett had an 18 yard strike flash inches wide after some neat build up play. Another very fine move soon after ended with Luke Robns crossing for Tom Malins who was slighty stretching as he volleyed just over from close range. Harefield gradually eased their way into the game and took the lead on 17 minutes with their first real chance when a right wing cross was headed in by Ben Cowen from ten yards. This somewhat rocked the Royston team who then often lacked the quality in their passing to open out the visiting defencive unit and with Harefield also lacking any real quality around the box the game looked destined to remain the way it was until half time. Just before the break Ricky Young flashed a wild left footer across the face of goal and at the other end a couple of well delivered set plays were well defended by The Crows defence. The half time interval was good for Royston as they returned with an equaliser within the first minute of the restart. Full Back Lewis Endacott won a good tackle some 35 yards from goal and after evading a couple of challenges placed a fine left footed 18 yard strike past the goalkeeper's dive. The game opened out nicely with both team's continually passing the ball well despite poor decision making continually impeding the play. Paul Attfield lost inspirational winger Luke Robins to a poor lunging tackle that went completely unpunished but his replacement Jamie Morriss was influential in Royston taking the lead. With 20 minutes remaining Morriss broke down the left and fed Lockett who combined with Carl Edwards who played in Ricky Young on the right to cross for new signing Russell Bull to head home at the far post. The goal was well celebrated by The Crow's newest acquisition but from then  the home side continually had to defend a good onslaught from the visiting side as Royston strived to hold onto their slim advantage. Jorden Gibson had a one and only meaningfull save to make ten minutes from time when he turned around a good strike from 16 yards but was powerless to prevent the equaliser just four minutes from time. A long ball from defence caught the Crows defence a little square and the substitute was given a little too much time too look up and angle a crafted lob shot into the far corner. The visitors thought they had won it moments later when a cross was met by Cowen at the far post but his close range header was ruled out for offside. Royston surged forward and a late attack saw a defender clearly handle the ball with Ricky Young trying to set up a close range chance but the poorly positioned official ruled a corner to be taken. This corner, superbly delivered by Arin Fehmi was met by David Cain at the far post who headed in via the post for his first, and massively important, goal of the season to win the game for his side.   Team  Gibson  Endacott  Apostolos  Stocker  Cain  Collins  Edwards  Malins (Bull) Young  Lockett  Robins (Morriss) (Fehmi)  Unused  Cook  De Lacy   Paul Attfield commented - " The lads I thought deserved the result on balance of play and I was delighted with the energy they showed throughout  the game  having not played for two weeks. Harefield are a very talented, well organised side and that combined with many frustrating decisions given against us by the referee made it a very hard game . To once again win a game so late on shows the desire levels of the team to succeed and it is an excellent three points for us"   

 

AFC Dunstable Res 0 Royston Town Res 3

A much changed line up from previous weeks saw The Crows back in the goals on a damp foggy Saturday. The returning TERRY LOCK showed what has been missing when he  opened the scoring in the 1 st minute reacting quickest to DAMIEN WILLIAMSONS long clearance.The Ressies never looked back from here. The 2nd goal was created from the veteran boot of ADAM SMITH when his tantalising in swinging free kick was headed on by MIKE BLOSS before SCOT CROSK rammed the ball home. LOCK was again on hand curling a fine effort home after fine approach play involving youngster JOEL WALSHINGHAM . Manager Kevin Wilson praised the side s approach to the game with this quote' Today we once again had late withdrawals from our side but Smithy and young Joe came on board and really showed what we are about now at Garden Walk. We need to build up momentum again at ressie level and see where it takes us'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 Jan Royston Town Res 0 London Colney Res 1

For the 3rd game in a row the Crows 2nd string came out losers by the odd goal.
With such a strong line up Royston fancied their chances agaisnt the current League leaders and started the game very brightly for the Home side on a hard and icy pitch,with DALLOWAY and CHRISTIE forcing the Colney 'keeper into comfortable saves.
Both home fullbacks,JOHN BITING on the right and the returning ROBERT GWYNNE had ample chance to get forward and cross the ball into dangerous areas but no goal was forthcoming and this continued deep into the 2nd half.
Royston were forced into a change when GWYNNE suffered a reoccurence of an earlier injury and this seemed to disturb the balance of the side,with Colney taking an undeserved lead very soon after his withdrawel.
Royston applied constant pressure to the visitors goal but again failed to score.
Assistant manager JOHN BLOSS was in a positive mood despite the defeat,'
At least we are creating chances.The bad weather break came at the wrong time for us.Im sure we will get goals soon'.
Games are now coming thick and fast and Royston will need to start to climb the Leauge

 

 

Standon & Puckeridge Vets 2  Royston Town Vets 2                  

Town Vets returned to action after a 2-month break with a hard fought two all draw at Standon & Puckeridge.

Russell Perret made his debut for the Vets and with Colin McArthur unavailable Simon Dobson donned the goalkeeper’s jersey.

Town had an early chance when Peter Leete put Paul Lewis through but his effort was saved by the ‘keeper. Town then attacked down the right with Adam Smith and when the ball was played to Kevin Barthrop he produced an excellent right-foot shot over the ‘keeper into the top left of the goal to give Town a deserved lead.   

The hosts equalised after 10 minutes of the second half when they took advantage of a square Town defence to fire in a shot that bounced over the diving Dobson into the corner of the net.

Town continued to create more chances and 20 minutes into the half Dave Daniels made a surging run on goal and was upended in the box. Marksman, Paul Lewis converted the resultant penalty to put Town back in the lead. More chances came Town’s way but a combination of excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing left Town with a slender lead going into the dying period of the game.

They paid for their profligacy when the hosts were awarded a penalty following a mistimed tackle by Adam Smith. Standon & Puckeridge converted the penalty with what turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Royston Town Vets:  S.Dobson, N.King, A. Smith, K Flack, G.Pinner, D.Daniels, A.Cover, M. McQueen, K.Barthrop, P.Leete, P.Lewis, R.Perret, B.Cannon, I.Allen.

 

 

Herts Senior Cup - Second Round

  ST Albans City      0-2  Royston Town   

Royston swept away the frustration of 5 weeks without football with a resounding victory at Conference South side St Albans City on Tuesday evening. City manager Steve Castle did Royston the justice of playing a near on full strength side as he tried to give his players some much needed match practice but it was Paul Attfield's young Crows that caused an almighty upset. As expected Royston had to soak up lots of home pressure and losing defender Luke Jones to an ankle injury in the first ten minutes didn't help things run smoothly for the Royston manager but the team defended tremendously throughout with Lewis Endacott, Ben Stocker, David Cain and Danny Apostolos having tremendous games. The host, as expected, played with fine attacking prowess around the perfect pitch for football but whatever they threw at Royston bodies, heads, tackles, interceptions and sheer desire kept the scoreline goaless as did a fantastic one on one block by keeper Jorden Gibson just before half time. Royston always tried to play football and probably had the chance of the half just on the half hour mark when a fine team move on the counter attack ended with Luke Robins crossing for Ricky Young whose glancing header hit the inside of the post and unfortunately rebounded into the keeper's gratefull hands. The visitors took confidence from their first half performance and grew more and more confident as the game progressed although the expected tiredness due to the lack of match practice begam to kick in midway through the half. Another decent move ended with Ryan Lockett firing straight at the keeper when well positioned and at the other end a possy of free kicks and corners were all stoutly dealt with. Gibson made another tremedous block from a deflected free kick as St Albans piled on late pressure but just as the dreaded extre time period loomed Royston hit their hostss with a fantastic goal with five minutes remaining. Another composed move down the right was eventually half headed clear by a central defender to new captain Ross Collins who controlled twenty five yards out and hit a sweet left foot volley past the motionless keeper. The stunned host through everything forward but within two minutes had conceded a second when a great win in midfield was played down the right channel where Lewis Endacott and Ricky Young worked an opening for Ryan Lockett to fire home from the edge of the area. Team celebrations would have suggested Royston had won the competition alright but sheer guts and dtermination and two momments of sheer class won the tie and sets The Crows up with a quarter final clash at home to Ryman League North side Cheshunt next Tuesday evening   Paul Attfield commented - " We had half an idea that St Albans would play a strong side and I really only wanted to use the game to give everyone much needed minutes for our big game in the FA Vase on Saturday. For me the result was immaterial but these guys once again sease to amaze and were simply awesome. Five weeks is a long time without football and to produce that sort of performance aginst the standard of opposition we played with no match fitness defies logic. At the very least it gives us an unexpected home game in the quarter finals and more importantly good confidence going into Saturday's game"   Team - Gibson, Endacott, Apostolos, Jones (Stocker), Cain, Collins, Edwards, Bronti (Fehmi), Young, Lockett, Robins  - Unused : Cook, Dolan  

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