Royston Town were left empty-handed despite a spirited display as promotion-chasing Real Bedford edged a 2–1 victory at Garden Walk in front of 367 spectators.
The Crows began brightly and nearly made the perfect start inside six minutes when Thomas Avgoustidis burst down the right and picked out Kian Harness, whose effort was scuffed and saved. That early promise was rewarded on ten minutes as skipper Adam Murray rose highest to head home Brad Smith’s free-kick from the left, giving Royston a deserved lead.
Real Bedford responded quickly and were level five minutes later after being awarded a penalty. Murray was penalised following a challenge, though both referee and assistant failed to spot an initial pull on Royston’s Bugyei-Kyei in the build-up. Josh Allen converted confidently from the spot to make it 1–1.
Louis Chadwick was then called into action, saving comfortably on 29 minutes before producing a trio of fine stops during sustained Bedford pressure. However, five minutes before the break the visitors turned the game around when the impressive Josh Setchell finished clinically to give Real Bedford a 2–1 half-time lead.
Royston pushed hard after the restart. Archie Locke’s deflected cross narrowly evaded Joe Iaciofano, while Chadwick again denied Bedford’s Jones at his near post. A strong penalty appeal on 67 minutes was waved away, and Locke later headed wide from a corner.
Late chances for Jordon Frederick, Harness and Murray followed, but Real Bedford held firm to remain third, while the Crows remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
ATT: 367
Star Man: Josh Setchell
