| Date | Tuesday 22 November 2016 |
| Match | Potters Bar Town v Royston Town |
| Competition | Evostik League Southern: Division One Central |
| Result | Won 3-1 |
| Attendance |
118 |
| Royston Scorers | Ingrey, Frendo, Towner |
| Crows MoM |
Ryan Ingrey |
Royston once again proved they are better mid-week travellers this season securing three good points on the road against a recently in form Potters Bar side that showed good fight and resistance throughout but could not deny the Crows the maximum reward for their overall strong team effort.
Again Steve Castle was in a position to field a little changed starting line up and this familiarity demonstrated that the regular on field partnerships are paying dividends, factoring in comparative strength in depth off of the bench when called for is pleasing to see.
It was the Scholars that had the first sniff of goal seeing a very early chance deflected wide. Then John Frendo saw his on target header well held in the slippery conditions. A period of Crows pressure brought four consecutive corners that the home side dug deep to keep out and a Scott Bridges free kick was struck just wide on 16 minutes.
From a bit of loose play at the back that had all Royston defenders scrambling a counter attack was launched and Josh Castiglione did well up the left beating his man almost on the dead ball line and blasting a parallel waist high cross in for Ryan Ingrey to connect to from a yard out to score on 22 minutes. 0-1.
Some strange match stalling decisions for both sides from the referee didn’t help anyone’s momentum but it was mainly the visitors that looked like scoring again and Castiglione featured in most forward moves but it was full back Danny May that set up Frendo for a clipped shot that bounced off the top of the bar and over right on the half time whistle.
An untidy period of play from the Crows at the start of the second half needed the once again impressive Joe Welch to save again and it was an uncomfortable first ten minutes for the visitors as the Scholars searched for an equaliser.
However, it was the resilient Crows that extended their lead on 55 minutes and it was some good play by Ingrey that found Frendo near the edge of the box, who doesn’t need much time to get a shot off, and he unleashed a peach that hit the back of the net past the diving home keeper. 0-2.
Scott Bridges was replaced by Spyros Mentis on 56 minutes as a consequence of a very early harshly received yellow card and this change was maybe the impetus for a home team rally and they first put a snap shot wide then got one back on 58 minutes with a header from Carl McCluskey. 1-2.
It was the home team that looked like getting an equaliser and they maintained good pressure on Welch’s goal. Castle replaced the also cautioned Martel Powell with Stuart Bridges on 69 minutes and together with a slight shift round of personnel seemed to regain the upper hand but not before Welch was called into action again to make another good stop.
The last change saw Simon Thomas come on for Frendo on 73 minutes.
A third game deciding goal was needed and it came from Ryan Towner nipping in and toe poking the ball past the advancing keeper following some good work first by Ingrey and then a deft touch on by Thomas. 1-3.
The Crows had broken their opponents resolve and had a couple of half chances to score again but the game finished at 1-3 with the points secured and Royston’s attention moving on to an exciting FA Trophy match on Saturday.
Team: Welch, Scott-Morriss, May, Bridges Scott (Mentis), Murray, Brathwaite, Ingrey, Towner, Frendo (Thomas), Powell (Bridges Stuart), Castiglione.
Subs not used – Warner-Eley, Frater.
