ROYSTON TOWN 3 BEACONSFIELD SYCOB 1

With the M25 up to its usual delaying tactics your roving reporter missed the first five minutes of the game but was reliably informed by the gateman that "your goalie is keeping you in it"! Seems Sam Bunting made a world class save in the opening minutes to deny Royston and had The Crows faithful, well, crowing!

SYCOB came for a battle and they more than held their own in the early stages, particularly in midfield. On 12 minutes Lee Togwell dispossessed a Royston player to wiz a ball into Lee Thompson's path and his outstretched leg connected to send the ball past Paul Bastock in The Crows goal. Three minutes later it really should have been two for The Rams but Aaron Berry screwed the ball wide when well placed

Royston put four past Daventry away in their previous game and are a good attacking footballing side packed with experienced players. Following Aarons miss they dominated the next quarter of an hour and on 30 minutes Kaan Fehmi restored parity with a well taken shot after good work by Robbie Nightingale on the right wing. Craig Hammond also went close on a couple of occasions for the home side before The Rams came back into the game with an Ollie Jones shot which went just over and Berry again spurning a good opportunity on 36 minutes after some good build up play.

The first period finished with The Rams playing some neat football with possibly one pass to many. Lee Thompson had a shot over the bar whilst Berry tried to curl the ball round the keeper on 44 minutes only to see his effort go the wrong side of the post.

Any hopes The Rams had of getting the second half off to a bang disappeared after just three minutes when, after a loose ball by the SYCOB front line left their defence under pressure and so needlessly conceding a foul, Fehmi's free kick sailed past everyone in the box to nestle in the left side of Bunting's net.

The Crows were now on the ascent and both Fehmi and Chris Watters tested Bunting. The industrious Ollie Jones then had a self made opportunity whistle just wide on 62 minutes. Three minutes later, though, it was pretty much game over as Stuart Bridges made the most of some hesitancy by Bunting to chalk up Royston's third strike. 

The last twenty minutes saw the two teams trading attacks with Fehmi at the heart of most Royston ones - for SYCOB, George Berkes had a scuffed shot nervously watched by Bastock whilst Berry missed a good chance when well set up by Togs.

The unbeaten away run came to an end but with better finishing The Rams could (and should) have got something out of this game.

Come On You Rams!  SYCOB Team:

1. Sam Bunting

2. Tom Gant

3. Zac Martin

4. Jed De Souza (Sub: Spencer Eales)

5. Alex Murray

6. George Berkes

7. Elliot Carey (Sub: Ashley Kelynack)

8. Lee Togwell (Captain)

9. Aaron Berry

10. Lee Thompson (Sub: Will Harris)

11. Ollie Jones

Subs Not Used:

12. Jake De Souza

17. Jordan Chandler

Attendance: 132