Royston Town 1 (Locke 36)
Stratford Town 0
Attendance – 302
Match rating – 2 out of 5
Star man – Louis Chadwick (Royston Town)
Royston recorded a much needed first home league win of the season as they saw off Stratford Town in a tight encounter.
The Bards were the quicker out the blocks as twice inside the first 6 minutes they had chances to score. A lucky deflection turned into a through ball for Ty Deacon but man of the match Louis Chadwick saved well. Chadwick was on had again to save from Owen James who had latched onto a Deacon flick but was unable to finish.
It took the home side half an hour to get into the game and pose any real attacking threat but when they did they produced the game’s decisive moment. Kash Odiase showed good strength to hold off the full back on the bye line before laying the ball back to Archie Locke. Locke looked up and lobbed a cross to the far post that ended up drifting over away keeper Jake Weaver and nestling into the net.
The Crows were indebted to Chadwick again before the break as he anticipated a close range effort from Daniel Vann that he beat away to give the home side a half time lead.
The second half was a tight affair with Royston controlling large spells of possession without adding to the score, althoughJoe Iaciofano was twice denied by Weaver. More importantly they kept things locked up at the back nullifying the Stratford attack to the extent Chadwick was not called upon, resulting in a well deserved, hugely important 3 points for the Crows.
