Royston Town were beaten 2–0 at Garden Walk as Worcester City produced an efficient performance to take all three points.
The visitors signalled their intent inside the opening minute when Connor Stanley blazed over from Dan Sweeney’s cut-back. On seven minutes, a slip from Anton Matthews gifted Sweeney a sight of goal, but he dragged his effort wide when a square pass may have been the better option.
Worcester continued to press. Charlie Wise headed straight at Reuben Rabstein from a corner on 13 minutes, before Rabstein reacted sharply to turn a striker’s effort around the post from Josh Bailey’s cross. A Luke Rowe volley was then deflected wide by Luke Warner-Eley, and Sweeney fired over from the left as the pressure mounted.
The breakthrough came on 40 minutes when Crows debutant Alfie Thornett, on loan from Stevenage, brought down Stanley in the box. Sweeney calmly dispatched the penalty to Rabstein’s right a minute later. Already booked and walking a tightrope , Sweeney was swiftly withdrawn after scoring.
Royston emerged brighter after the break. Will St Clair-Burton fired over and Warner-Eley’s free-kick struck the wall following a foul on Maguranyanga. But on 60 minutes Worcester doubled their lead, Liam Lockett’s left-footed effort squeezing through bodies and bobbling into the far corner.
A sliding Paul Downing block denied Royston a route back on 65 minutes, and Worcester managed the closing stages comfortably as the Crows toiled without carving out a clear opening.
STAR MAN: ALFIE THORNETT
Match rating: 2/5
