Match Report: Holmer Green v Royston Town

Date Saturday 23 October 2010
Match Holmer Green v Royston Town
Competition Spartan South Midlands League: Premier Division
Result Won 3-1
Royston Scorers Lockett, Bronti, Malins
Man of Match Ross Collins
Attendance 49

The Crows rounded off a fine week with their fourth win in eight days at Holmer Green FC. The difficulty of rotating a squad and keeping everyone fresh with so many games in a week has been Paul Attfield's headache and he would have been thrilled with the four positive results his players have delivered.

There were a few defensive problems for the Crows boss with David Cain, Lewis Endacott and the long term Nick Mulvaney absent but a slight re-shuffle showed no sign of weakness. In attack Royston showed the confidence on the ball that sides would be expected to show after a good successful streak which was testament to the players on a slightly sticky playing surface.

Despite lots of visiting pressure much of the build up play often just failed to create the clear openings it often deserved. Holmer to their credit did defend well but their need to defend in numbers often left them short in attack and they created little to ever realistically affect the final scoreline.

Pressure built as the game developed and Royston took a 17th minute lead. Good work down the right between Josh Bronti and Tom Whitaker created some space in the box for Ryan Lockett who side stepped a defender and cracked a shot into the roof of the net.

The pace of Royston's game invited some lat challenges that brought 3 home cautions and another was shown by the referee when a forward deliberately handled the ball into the net from a corner.

Another home corner brought Holmer's only chance of the half when a defender headed over from six yards unmarked when he should really have done better.

The attacks continued to arrive and Ashley Grinham went close with a header and Tom Malins also went close when his fine control from a long ball opened up the chance but he couldn't get enough on the lob to lift over the poorly positioned keeper.

The importance of the second goal was pivotal coming in first half added time. Another fine move saw Carl Edwards bring a fine diving save from the keeper. Tom Malins just failed to get to the rebound but lobbed back into the danger area where Josh Bronti hit a stunning twelve yard volley past a helpless keeper.

The Crows didn't quite find the first half fluency in the opening stages of the half and they conceded a poor goal with seven second half minutes on the clock. A counter attack was on for the visiting side but they gave the ball away poorly and one simple forward ball released a forward who finished with uncomfortable ease.

It took another ten minutes to get back into the first half momentum but once they did there only looked one likely outcome one they scored their third. The move once again was swift from one end of the pitch to the other. The switch of play from Ross Collins released Tom Malins who ran clear and slotted under the keeper .

Paul Attfield changed the shape of his side with 3 substitutions to maintain good, solid control. The introduction of Luke Robins and Ricky Young caused persistent problems in the later stages whilst Glen Lamacraft looked solid in midfield.

With a little more care from good situations Royston could have won by a more emphatic margin but it was another encouraging showing from the team

Team: Robinson Whitaker Grinham McDevitt McElvoy Collins Edwards (Lamacraft) Bronti (Young) Dance (Robins) Lockett Malins