| Date | Saturday 12 November 2016 |
| Match | Royston Town v Wimborne Town |
| Competition | Buildbase FA Trophy: 2nd Round Qualifying |
| Result | Won 4-0 |
| Attendance |
180 |
| Royston Scorers | Ingrey(2), Scott Bridges, John |
| Crows MoM |
Ryan Ingrey |
Royston Town welcomed Wimborne Town from the equivalent level Evo-Stik South West division for an exciting FA Trophy clash. After Tuesday’s less than sub-standard League Cup performance the onus was on Steve Castle to pick his strongest available side, demand an appropriate performance and get the positive momentum going again.
After persistent rain the pitch was looking green and lush with no question of a call off for the long distance travelling away team and supporters.
With the game underway it was the visitors who had the first effort on goal with a long distance effort that sailed wide. It was mainly home pressure from then on.
Firstly, on six minutes Dan Brathwaite flicked a header from a Danny May free kick that clipped the top of the bar and over. Then Ryan Towner curled an effort wide and Adam Murray put in a powerful drive forward and hit a hand stinger that the Wimborne keeper did well to push away.
On fourteen minutes the visitors created a decent chance that had the Crows scrambling and produced a shot that Joe Welch half stopped and then May made a last ditch stop to prevent Wimborne taking the lead. Almost immediately the play shifted up the other end and Towner this time got in a shot on target that the keeper could only palmed up and Ryan Ingrey followed up with a firm header into the exposed net on 16 minutes. 1-0.
Again it was mainly home team pressure and there was a high level of expectancy from the Royston supporters to see the lead extended.
The referee had a strange ten minutes that culminated in a flurry of yellow cards, mainly stemming from a clearly incorrect call that followed a shot on goal that the Wimborne keeper tipped over and the hapless official felt the Crows’ player’s protests against the award of a goal-kick harsh enough to issue cautions. In his lack of match control a yellow card was then flashed at a Wimborne defender as he was harshly adjudged to have kicked the ball away.
On 41 minutes Ingrey found himself in the right place at the right time again as this time Scott Bridges’ low effort following an under-hit corner was again only deflected away and Ingrey shot firmly and accurately to punish the half clearance. 2-0.
Welch again did well with a low save with his legs as Wimborne reacted and the Crows kept the clean sheet intact up to half time.
Second half and it was clear the next goal would prove vital. The Crows pressed for it to be for the home team. Castle shuffled the pack with two substitutions – Firstly Ryan Frater replaced Stuart Bridges ten minutes in, then 5 minutes later the impressive and hard-working Ryan Towner was swapped for Spyros Mentis.
Welch was again called into action and was equal to the challenge saving superbly.
The game deciding third goal came on 64 minutes. Martel Powell found some space on the right wing and his intelligent look up and cross found a well-placed Scott Bridges who headed home cleanly and firmly. 3-0.
Frazer John was sent on for the returning from injury Josh Castiglione on 68 minutes.
With Wimborne’s resolve almost broken it was only going to be the home team that scored again and this came on 77 minutes when a looping cross from the fresh legged John evaded everyone and landed in the far corner of the net. 4-0.
Again more crowd pleasing home team forward work, mainly revolving around the influential John Frendo, but no further scores and the full time whistle drew a line under a back on track pleasing full squad performance with an important and lucrative Royston FA Trophy victory.
Team: Welch, May, Brathwaite, Bridges Scott, Murray, Bridges Stuart (Frater), Ingrey, Towner (Mentis), Frendo, Powell, Castiglione (John).
Subs not used – Thomas, Warner-Eley.
