Date | Saturday 10 August 2013 |
Match | Fleet Town v Royston Town |
Competition | Pre-Season Friendly |
Result | Drew 2-2 |
Royston Scorers | Mason, Collins |
Royston completed their pre-season game schedule with a draw at Fleet Town. The Crows had to come from behind twice in the game against a lively Fleet Town, who themselves have had a decent run of pre-season results and a draw was probably a fair outcome.
Being without three goalkeepers Paul Attfield gave 16 year old, new youth team keeper Alfie Kemplen a debut. Luke Robins missed the game due to ankle ligament damage which will keep him sidelined for a few weeks, Dave Theobald sat out with a knee injury and Ryan Lockett was away.
The Crows weren't helped with their preperation by being sat on the M25 in a three hour journey which meant a delayed 3:30pm kick-off. This seemed to affect the visitors as they started slowly against a fast counter-attacking side who took a 12th minute lead when a forward reacted quickest to a defensive blunder to shoot home from 14 yards.
Royston reacted well and were level within three minutes when Robbie Mason raced through on goal to fire under the keeper. They continued to have good passages of play but lacked a killer final ball with Mason heading just wide from a corner being the closest they came.
The half finished with the hosts on top and they retook a lead when The Crows reacted poorly to a half cleared free kick and the free shot from the edge of the area found the corner of the net.
The visitors changed things around at half time and had a controlled period of dominance in the opening 30 minutes of the half. They created numerous chances with most disappointingly not testing the keeper. Robbie Nightingale was unfortunate to strike the crossbar from 20 yards but The Crws did level when Mason headed Jack Bradshaw's cross back across goal and Ross Collins headed home from two yards.
Fleet finished the game strongly and went close on a couple of occasions but overall The Crows have had a decent pre-season with a number of highly competitve fixtures that should stand them in good stead for the season's opening league fixture at Egham Town next Saturday.