Match Report: Royston Town Res. v Harpenden Town Res.

Date Saturday 28 August 2010
Match Royston Town Reserves v Harpenden Town Reserves
Competition Spartan South Midlands League: Reserve Division One
Result Won 2-1
Royston Scorers De Lacy, Cannon
Man of Match
Attendance

The Crows 2nd string started this season’s campaign with a new kit new players and a new assistant manager with Adam Smith lining up with Kev Wilson in the dugout.
Indeed the only thing that wasn’t brand new was the style of Football with Royston launching straight into the attack and pinning Harpenden on the back foot from the 1st whistle.

Mike Debnam came closest in the opening exchanges when his clever header beat the keeper but not the cross bar. This was quickly followed by close misses from Cain and the hard working Ryan Cannon whose improvised header again beat the keeper but not the far post.

Royston continued to press and when Ryan Cannon’s back header found the net, everyone present was waiting for the flood gates to open.

Connor De Lacy added to this theory by calmly slotting home after a mazy run, and although the home side pressed the goal feast never materialised.

The 2nd half saw the visitors adopt a damage limitation formation with all but 1 player behind the ball and it came as a jolt to the Town when with 15 minutes to go, debut keeper Dan Plumb was beaten by a near post header. Royston refused to panic and substitutes Lee Bates and Harry Noades both went close as the Town saw the game out.

Town Manager Wilson said “We were always in control today and will continue to improve and hopefully score goals along the way. 3 or 4 of our team are under 20 years old and every game is a learning game for them”.