ROYSTON TOWN FC v STOURBRIDGE FC
Saturday 16th October 2021
Fresh from locking horns with Virgil Van Dijk on Wednesday evening, Gibraltar international Reece Styche scored both goals to bring to an end Royston’s winning run.
It was the Crows who struck first, as Scott Bridges shot deflected in off a defender after a quick free-kick from Isaac Galliford released Brandon Adams, who pulled the ball back for Bridges to open the scoring.
Belying their league position, it was Stourbridge who took the game to Royston, and Joe Welch had to be alert to save from Montel Gibson. Stourbridge continued to dictate proceedings and deservedly equalised in the 32nd minute as the Crows defence failed to deal with a long free-kick and Styche thumped the loose ball in from outside the area.
The second half was a different story though, as Royston took control of the game and forced Stourbridge onto the back foot. Despite prolonged spells of possession and a number of corners and free-kicks the home side failed to work away goalkeeper Charlie Price, as Harry Draper and Dan Newton headers along with a Scott Bridges free-kick all went just wide of goal.
The best chance fell to Scott Bridges whose well-struck shot looked destined for the net before Melis Bushaj appeared out of nowhere to deflect it away for a corner.
And so it was left for Styche to grab the headlines, as his 86th-minute free-kick deflected off the wall, leaving Welch with no chance, to give the Glassboys a much-needed victory.
Royston: 1-Welch, 7-Titchmarsh (6-Henry 76), 14-Brighton, 5-Murray A ©, 20-Newton, 4-Bridges, 16-Rotimi (17-Williams 66), 2-Asafu-Adjaye, 9-Adams (8-Draper 31), 10-Bateman, 11-Galliford
Unused: 3-Brathwaite, 12-Murray M
MOM – Scott Bridges
| ROYSTON TOWN | STOURBRIDGE | |
| 3 | EFFORTS ON TARGET | 5 |
| 6 | EFFORTS OFF TARGET | 5 |
| 5 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 5 |
| 17 | FREE KICKS AWARDED | 19 |
| 6 | CORNERS | 8 |
| 2 | YELLOW CARDS | 4 |
| 0 | RED CARDS | 0 |
