| Date | Saturday 20 December 2014 |
| Match | Royston Town v North Greenford United |
| Competition | Evo-Stik League Southern: Division One Central |
| Result | Won 2-1 |
| Attendance |
134 |
| Royston Scorers | Fehmi, Traore (o.g.) |
| Crows MoM |
Spyros Mentis |
For the second time this season Royston came up against a team that had just lost their manager and a few key players to find themselves pitched against a spirited side which nearly got something from this contest. In this bizarre game of Royston match domination, it was once again a matter of struggling to finish the hard work off.
North Greenford were battered in the first ten minutes with the crowd counting at least 8 good chances for the home side to open the scoring only to find themselves one down and scratching their collective heads in disbelief.
These early efforts from Ryan Ingrey, Chris Watters, Kaan Fehmi and Craig Hammond all either went high or wide or found the body parts of the Greenford keeper, Amadou Tangara who performed outstanding heroics all game.
On nine minutes, totally against the run of play, a slip by Watters saw Bradley Morris break and his first shot was parried by Ron Yates but Morris followed up well to score.
Visibly stunned and incredulous the Crows regained their composure and continued to test the superb Tangara notably a good header from Hammond that saw the Greenford stopper dive low to brilliantly save again.
A decent Watters free kick was also foiled but Fehmi should have done better just before half time as his chest down and volley cleared the bar with this time the keeper beaten and the Crows went in one nil down at half time.
The home fans possibly thought they would see more of the same dominance in the second half but the play was more equal in the first 25 minutes of the half and the Royston players and crowd must have thought it just wasn’t going to be their day.
Then on 77 minutes Royston finally got a break – a slightly dubious penalty kick was awarded with Spyros Mentis deemed to be fouled and Fehmi stepped up for the resulting spot kick. It was no surprise to see the inspired Tangara choose right as he dived low to stop the striker’s first effort but to his credit skipper Fehmi stayed focussed and followed in to convert the equaliser from five yards.
With Royston continuing to press and challenge the creaking visiting back line it was another slice of good fortune that actually brought the winner. On 88 minutes an overlap run by Watters brought a good probing cross that defender Hady Traore stretched to divert into his own net for an own goal.
It certainly wasn’t the prettiest game to watch and the Crows continue to struggle for some real form, but Royston go into the Christmas period with an important morale boosting win and an equally important second half to the season to come.
Team: Yates, Bradshaw, Watters, Theobald, Bridges Scott, Mentis, Nightingale (Dobson), Bridges Stuart, Hammond (Hart), Fehmi, Ingrey (Lockett). Subs not used – Powell, Collins.
