ROYSTON TOWN FC v BISHOP’S STORTFORD FC
Tuesday 13th October 2020
An under-par Royston performance saw them dumped out of the FA Cup, as Bishop’s Stortford ran out comfortable winners of this Third-Round Qualifying tie.
The 600 capacity crowd were served up a turgid first half as both teams largely cancelled each other out, with the first action of note saw Joe Welch make an instinctive one handed save to deny Archie Jones’ close range effort. The only other noteworthy moment was far more important though, as Frankie Merrifield swooped to head home a near post corner to give the home side the lead going into the break.
The second half served up more of the same, with Royston struggling to deal with Bishop’s Stortford’s physicality, they were never able to gain any impetus and had to wait until the 64th minute for their first real threat on goal, as Adam Murray headed a James Brighton corner over the bar.
3 minutes later Murray thought he had equalized, but for a fine save – Jack Giddens pushed away his sweetly struck half-volley from the edge of the box, which proved to be the Crow’s only on target effort of the evening.
This 5-minute period was as good as it got for the Crows though, as Stortford started to look more threatening going forward. In the 70th minute Aaron Greene created space for himself in the box but fired wide when it looked easier to score. Shortly afterwards Welch was on hand again to deny Jones, but the Blues did not have to wait long for the crucial second goal.
Picking the ball up deep in his own half, Greene’s excellent long ball found Darren Foxley, who held up the play well, before crossing for Merrifield to finish from close range once again.
Substitute Brandan Adams went close for Royston, hitting the post, after forcing Giddens into an error, but it was Stortford who wrapped up victory in the 87th minute, as substitute Correy Davidson was on hand to convert fellow sub Tom Richardson’s through ball and complete a miserable night for the Crows.
Royston: 1-Welch, 2-Asafu-Adjaye, 4-Bridges, 5-Murray 6-Parr ©, 7-Castiglione, 8-Watkins (17_williams 70), 10-Edwards (9-Adams), 11-Galliford (24-Rotimi 55), 14-Brighton, 20-Newton
Unused: 13-Smart, 18-Green, 25-Newman
| ROYSTON TOWN | BISHOPS STORTFORD | |
| 1 | EFFORTS ON TARGET | 6 |
| 3 | EFFORTS OFF TARGET | 1 |
| 0 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 3 |
| 8 | FREE KICKS AWARDED | 14 |
| 4 | CORNERS | 8 |
| 1 | YELLOW CARDS | 0 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
