Date | Saturday 26 April 2014 |
Match | Marlow v Royston Town |
Competition | Calor League: Central Division One |
Result | Won 4-2 |
Attendance |
106 |
Royston Scorers | Fehmi(pen), De La Salle, Dobson, Mason |
Crows MoM |
Jhai Dhillon |
Royston Town signed off their turbulent Jekyll and Hyde season with a good away victory at Marlow. Steve Castle reverted to mainly the defensive line-up and overall formation that had given Daventry a game but introduced big Dave Theobald for his first league game of the season after lengthy rehabilitation on a knee operation and the whole club wish him well. Midfielder Robbie Nightingale was injured in the warm-up and Ross Collins slotted in easily.
A minute into the game and Castle made another enforced change as Gary Hart was clattered by an industrial unpunished challenge that saw him stretchered off with a low knee/shin injury and was immediately replaced by Reece Dobson seeing Kaan Fehmi pushed to right midfield as Dobson joined Robbie Mason upfront.
This early reshuffle didn’t help a first half that was slightly scrappy and disjointed. The Crows were visibly committed, eager to impress and harsh on themselves when moves didn’t work. A few half chances were spurned with unimpressive shooting, but work rate and effort was still evident in this meaningless end of the season fixture. Full back Jhai Dhillon had an impressive first half with some good defending and over-lap play.
Marlow took a lead into half time when a possibly under-hit back pass was smashed powerfully by George Lawton into the home side striker Jon Bennett who had closed down rapidly and the rebound bounced unluckily into the gaping net.
No changes in the second half and the Crows came out pumped up for goals and were rewarded almost immediately as the overlapping Jack Bradshaw was fouled in the box and the ever reliable Fehmi stepped up to slot home from the spot. Marlow retook the lead five minutes later as they were awarded a penalty of their own and Bennett smashed home.
Joe De La Salle got his team level with a well worked corner routine that saw Fehmi’s delivery met on the half volley and his shot evaded many bodies as it found its way low into the net.
From then on it was all Royston and the remaining two substitutions were made with Ryan Wharton coming on for Theobald who should be pleased with his hour’s match time and Lewis Endacott replacing Fehmi on the right of midfield.
Carl Edwards set up the goal that saw Royston take the lead with a fine through ball that Dobson ran onto and without breaking stride clipped it first time with his trusty left foot into the far side-netting.
The scoring was completed with hard-working striker Robbie Mason rounding the exposed keeper and passing the ball into an unguarded goal.
This was a decent performance – especially in the second half, with all players contributing to a good away win.
These three points meant Royston would finish the season in seventh place, same as the previous campaign.
Team: Lawton, Bradshaw, Dhillon, De La Salle, Theobald (Wharton), Bridges, Collins, Edwards, Fehmi (Endacott), Hart (Dobson), Mason. Subs not used – Cambridge, Mentis.