| Date | Saturday 21 September 2013 |
| Match | Royston Town v Chalfont St Peter |
| Competition | Calor League: Division One Central |
| Result | Won 3-0 |
| Attendance |
182 |
| Royston Scorers | Lockett, Ingrey, Hammond |
| Crows MoM |
Jack Bradshaw |
In terms of scoreline this was The Crows' most convincing margin of victory and but for a flurry of missed the chances the margin of victory would have been greater but manager Paul Attfield would have been pleased considering how depleted his ranks are at present.
Dave Theobald, Kaan Fehmi, Robbie Nightingale and Luke Robins continue to be sidelined and for this game Robbie Mason started a three match suspension and Full Back Tom Pepper sat out with a hamstring strain. suffered from mid week training. On top of that list Joe De La Salle was replaced at half time suffering with a migraine and Lewis Endacott was also replaced in the second half through injury.
Despite more enforced changes from last Monday's draw at Beaconsfield , the depth of squad this season could be crucial as the team gave an overall strong performance against opposition currently at the wrong end of the table but coming into the game with a good FA Cup midweek scalp from a higher level.
This was one of Royston's strongest openings to a game this season as they went straight at Chalfont from kick off and took an early seventh minute lead when Ryan Ingrey passed to Ryan Lockett from a quickly taken throw and Lockett's shot from the corner of the area was to fierce for the Chalfont keeper as the ball beat his dive at the near post.
The Crows continued to press with good passing from defence through midfield but too often just lacked a final killer instict pass at the death although Craig Hammond should have doubled the lead on 20 minutes when he met Mitchell Bryant's cross with a free header from eight yards but directed it wide of the upright.
Chalfont came more into the game for the final twenty minutes of the half with some neat passing of their own but really lacked a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch and created no clear chances to trouble George Lawton in goal and just before half time The Crows could have added a second goal.
From a visiting corner Royston counter attacked superbly with Mitchell Bryant getting behid the visiting defence but his 16 yard shot was blocked by the keeper and scrambled away to conclude the first period.
Adie Cambridge replaced the ill Joe Delasalle at the interval and withing ten minutes of the restart the injured Lewis Endacott was replaced by young full back Billy Baird.
The Crows were happy to sit off Chalfont and let them have plenty of the ball with a clear ploy to counter attack the visitors from any mis placed pass or mistake. So it happended their was plenty of both and clear home chances were created.
Ryan Ingrey headed one chance over from a good right wing cross and Craig Hammond hit a sweet 25 yard half volley towards goal which was acrobatically turned over the crossbar by the visiting keeper.
Home pressure became more intense and a second goal finally came on 63 minutes with full back Billy Baird venturing forward down the left and floating in a good cross with Ryan Ingrey coming in on the blind side of the Chalfont defence and metting the ball with a diving header from ten yards into the bottom corner.
With The Crows sensing blood the lead was increased further four minutes later as the home side became more and more confident in possession of the ball.
Good work just outside the area from Ross Collins and Ryan Ingrey set up the chance for Craig Hammond who drifted inside a defender a blasted the ball across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Hammond could have ended the game with more goals as he first latched on to a defensive mistake and raced clear but a poor final touch allowed the keeper to smother and soon after he met a right wing cross at the near post with his effort coming back off the post and his quick footed follow up striking the keeper's arm and the top of the crossbar in quick succession.
The introduction of a couple of Chalfont forward substitutes caused Royston a few late defensive headaches and on two occasions the visitors went close but again never tested the home goal and it finished on a dour note for the defeated side when their full back for sent off in the final moments for a second booking for dissent.
Overall a comfortable win for Paul Attfield's side with two difficult games coming up in the next week.
Team: Lawton, Endacott (Baird), Parr, De La Salle (Cambridge), Bradshaw, Collins, Spencer, Ingrey, Hammond, Lockett, Bryant (Edwards). Unused Subs: Binge
