| Date | Thursday 14 July 2011 |
| Match | Takelev v Royston Town |
| Competition | Pre-Season Friendly |
| Result | Won 4-2 |
| Royston Scorers | Lockett (2), Martin Standen, Beck |
| Man of Match | – |
| Attendance | – |
Royston got their pre season off and running with a great work out at Essex Senior League side Takeley. The hosts looked a decent outfit and on an excellent surface a good sized crowd saw both sides serve up some attractive football.
Paul Attfield was able to use 16 players on the night and with a number of players absent for various reasons the squad looks to have decent depth at this early stage.
Royston were caught a bit cold in the opening stages as they tried to get a foothold in the game. Takeley had the better of the early minutes and took a 6th minute lead with a cracking 25 yard half volley.
The visitors gradually stepped up their game and were particularly prominent on the counter attack throughout the game. One such attack in the 20th minute led to an equaliser when Matt Standen's cross was dive headed into the net by Ryan Lockett.
Eight minutes later Royston were in front when Lockett drilled home from 16 yards reacting on a half cleared cross.
The lead was taken into the half time interval and Royston returned with changes in their ranks and some decent control of the game from the start of the half. They extended their lead to 3-1 in the 52nd minute with Martin Standen heading in Ash Grinham's throw and soon after Matt Standen rounded the keeper when through on gola but was thwarted by an excellent goal line clearance.
Jack Bradshaw was unlucky to have a chip headed off the line before Takeley reduced the arrears with a firmly struck 20 yard effort. Takeley had a player dismissed with 20 minutes remaining for some retaliation and with the referee refusing a replacement Royston looked relatively comfortable despite some obvious tiredness kicking in.
It was left to Jason Beck to complete the scoring late on when he ran at goal with his 20 yard effort creeping under the keeper's dive and into the net to finish off a good night's work for The Crows
