| Date | Tuesday 29 March 2011 |
| Match | Royston Town v Broxbourne Borough |
| Competition | Spartan South Midlands League: Premier Division |
| Result | Won 7-1 |
| Royston Scorers | Collins(2), Dance(3), Young, Klein |
| Man of Match | Paul Klein |
| Attendance | 102 |
Royston Town FC hosted Broxbourne Borough for a league match on a fine evening that had seen a sprinkling of rain earlier that afternoon that had hopefully softened up the pitch a bit for the players. The start was delayed for 30 minutes due to floodlight problems but once rectified both teams looked ready for the kick off.
The first twenty minutes were mostly non-eventful as both teams battled to get a foothold in this game and no real clear cut chances were created by either team. The scoring was opened with a Broxbourne through ball just getting a slight deflection that wrong-footed the defenders and that fell to Rory Brien who despatched a clean shot low into Jorden Gibson’s goal.
Further Royston injury woe followed as the influential Martin Standen limped off with ankle problems to be replaced by David Cain and a slight reshuffle of the pack from Paul Attfield was needed. Parity was restored on 37 minutes when Ross Collins got his head on a long far post cross from Jack Bradshaw that beat the keeper well.
On 42 minutes, an incident in Royston’s left back area was followed by a coming together of both teams, including one of Boro’s substitutes, and the referee dealt out three straight red cards as punishment – The Crow’s Ashley Grinham and Boro’s Bradley Drisdale left the pitch together with the Broxbourne substitute who was foolish enough to get involved in an on pitch incident. The half ended at 1-1.
The second half was all Royston and a combination of determination, speed and good finishing put Broxbourne to the sword and a further six goals were scored. Ricky Young got his second goal in two games on 51 minutes following some good work by Bobby Dance and Dance followed this up with a great finish on 60 minutes with a Bradshaw pass finding him on the edge of the box and he showed great skill to shift the ball and put in an unstoppable shot to make the score 3-1. Boro had a chance on 65 minutes as the ball was cleared off the Royston goal-line following a slight mix up between keeper and defence.
On 70 minutes Dance got his second from a penalty awarded for a foul on Bradshaw after the full-back had nut-megged the Boro defender who then clumsily brought him down. Broxbourne’s heads were down and apart from a few lazy and late challenges were out of this match. Eleven minutes later Dance got his hat-trick when a Glen Lamacraft cross was not dealt with and he had ample time to compose himself and bury it in the net from 2 yards. The sixth Royston goal was all Ross Collins. On 87 minutes the skipper surged up the left, cut inside and shot firmly into the net for a fine individual effort and his second of the game.
The biggest cheer of the night came when Crow’s legend Duncan Easley entered the fray to give a well-earned rest to John McGrandles. Easley showed none of his 45 years as he settled effortlessly into the centre-back position and had the Boro strikers in his pocket immediately. The scoring was completed in the 89th minute when the lively Paul Klein finished a good move from Lamacraft and Young to score with a low hard drive that went under the keeper. The game finished as a comprehensive 7-1 win for the Crows.
This was an excellent second half performance from a lively Royston side. The sending offs seemed to affect Broxbourne more and the Crow’s took full advantage. The Royston crowd went home happy.
Team: Gibson, Bradshaw, Grinham, McGrandles (Easley), Endacott (Apostolos), Martin Standen (Cain), Collins (Capt), Young, Lamacraft, Dance, Klein.
Man of the Match – Paul Klein.
