ROYSTON TOWN FC v HITCHIN TOWN FC

Monday 30^th August 2021

After 3 indifferent performances, the Crows produced a controlled, dominant performance to deservedly claim the 3 points in front of a large bank holiday crowd at Top Field.

The early exchanges were mainly fought out in the middle third, with chances few and far between, the first of which fell to Callum Stead, whose glancing header was the wrong side of the post. Hitchin looked to play out from the back, and on occasion when done quickly looked a threat, but conversely did look like they would leave themselves exposed if the Crows could pinch the ball high up, and this proved the Canaries undoing as the away side snatched a 37^th minute lead. Isa Rotimi, who had a fine first half, pressed the ball high, winning it on the left hand side, the ball was quickly transferred to Isaac Galliford, via Brandon Adams, and Galliford made no mistake from 10 yards to score against his former club.

Royston upped the tempo from this point and proceeded to dominate the game, carrying this on throughout the second half as Hitchin failed to launch any meaningful attacks. Such was the Crows dominance, the one and only shot on the away goal during the entire match was courtesy of some hesitancy by Joe Welch, whose poor clearance only resulted in a looping effort that he was easily able to gather.

The vocal away support was rewarded with a second goal in the 69^th minute as a James Brighton free kick was firmly headed home by Matt Batemen for his first league goal since his return from Hemel Hempstead. Further chances fell to Bateman and substitute Harry Draper as the pressure continued, but the Crows work had been done, and they were comfortably able to hold onto the 2 goal lead and record a morale boosting victory before their FA Cup campaign commences at home to step 5 Mildenhall next Saturday.

Royston: 1-Welch, 7-Titchmarsh (12 Murray M 62), 14-Brighton, 5-Murray A ©, 2-Asafu-Adjaye, 4-Bridges, 19-Mentis (20-Newton 55), 16-Rotimi, 9-Adams, 10-Bateman, 11-Galliford (8-Draper 67)

Unused: 15-Brown, 17-Towner

MOM: James Brighton