| Date | Tuesday 3 December 2013 |
| Match | Oxhey Jets v Royston Town |
| Competition | South Midlands Floodlight Cup (R1) |
| Result | Lost 3-2 |
| Attendance |
38 |
| Royston Scorers | Bryant, Edwards |
| Crows MoM |
Carl Edwards |
Royston Town capitulated against a fired-up Oxhey Jets side in the South Midlands Floodlight Cup First Round and whilst this result can be dismissed as low priority compared to the Crow’s League campaign, it was more the poor performance that would have worried the few travelling fans.
Duncan Easley shuffled the pack slightly and fielded an arguably stronger back four and team line up than for Saturday’s league game but didn’t get the reaction and performance he was looking for.
After a fragmented and staccato start it was Royston who opened the scoring in the 34th minute when a fine pass by Carl Edwards found the over-lapping Lewis Endacott on the right whose pin-point pass found Mitchell Bryant who tapped in from two yards. Immediately Oxhey responded and a minute later it was all square as good play by Simeon Armstrong found Karl Bull who smashed the ball in off the underside of the bar.
More disjointed and undisciplined play from the Crows and they found themselves behind seven minutes into the second half when Jamie Moran punished some poor tackling and finished well. George Darlow again produced a couple of good saves to keep his team in it and Carl Edwards equalised six minutes later when his persistence and ingenuity prevailed, picking up a Rob Mason pass and flicking a fine finish over both defender and goalkeeper.
Easley rang the changes, bringing on all three subs at the same time, replacing Rob Mason, Luke Robins and Billy Baird with Antonio Murray, Kaan Fehmi and Joe De La Salle, looking to find some refocused quality and push on for a cup victory. It didn’t happen.
Team: Darlow, Endacott, Baird (De La Salle), Bradshaw, Parr, Edwards, Collins, Ingrey, Bryant, Mason (Murray), Robins (Fehmi).
Subs not used – Lockett, Spencer.
Subs not used – Lockett, Spencer.
The match winning goal came from Oxhey number 10 Luke Beardsworth who converted low into the corner following some good work down the right wing.
Despite no lack of evident effort Royston were distinctly lacking in ideas and quality and crafted no real late chances on the home side goal and Oxhey Jets got the deserved win and possibly surprising scalp against a worryingly struggling for form Royston Town.
