Date | Tuesday 8 February 2011 |
Match | Royston Town Reserves v Crawley Green Reserves |
Competition | Spartan South Midlands League: Reserve Division One |
Result | Won 2-1 |
Royston Scorers | Bates, Klein |
The ressies showed true character to bounce back from the shock defeat at Ampthill to once again triumph over Crawley Green for the third time this season.
A very different line up from the one that took to the pitch against Ampthill started the game brightly with some swift attacking play and slick passing football.
The management had asked the players to show a reaction and this was encapsulated by PAUL KLEIN who time and again frustrated his opponents with his direct and penetrating runs into Crawley's back line.
Neither side created too much in the way of goal scoring chances with LUKE HOWARD only having to make one save in the first half.
Whatever was said in the home side changing room paid early dividends as straight from the restart Royston looked the most likely to score.
The goal came from LEE BATES after a fine passing move involving GLEN LAMACRAFT and BRINSLEY BAILEY with BATES flicking the ball past the Crawley 'keeper.
Royston were not in front for long. A Crawley corner was cruelly deflected off two Royston defenders and the ball sailed past the stranded HOWARD to level the score.
Royston seemed to step up a gear and a typically powerful run from skipper JON BITTING set up the impressive KLEIN to stroke home a goal from close range to put the home side back in front and BITTING looked to have sealed the tie with a great finish only to be denied by a very very late and a very dubious flag from the linesman.
Crawley bombarded the Royston defence but marshalled by the excellent MICHAEL DEBNAM the Ressies held out for a return to winning ways, having maintained a unbeaten home run which stretches back to the middle of last season