| Date | Saturday 28 November 2015 |
| Match | Royston Town v Uxbridge |
| Competition | Evostik League Southern: Division One Central |
| Result | Drew 1-1 |
| Attendance |
127 |
| Royston Scorers | McDevitt |
| Crows MoM |
Jack Bradshaw |
The only winner at Garden Walk was the weather as the easterly gusting wind did its best to spoil a potentially good game of football. The Crows eager to avenge the defeat at Uxbridge on the opening day of the season were perhaps a little over enthusiastic as a clattering tackle by Joe De La Salle in the opening minutes left striker Matty Woods pole axed and whilst there was no fear of a red card for the challenge there were concerns that De La Salle was the “last man”. After consulting his Assistant the Referee produced a yellow and an audible sigh of relieve was evident from the Royston supporters. Unfortunately in the challenge Woods twisted his knee and was stretched off and was replaced by Piota Marek.
The game was slow to get going as neither side seemed capable of coping with the swirling conditions but with the wind in favour of the away side they gradually adopted a more positive approach and pressed the Crows back but failed to create any notable chances until the 40th minute when substitute Marek had two quick chances to score but missed the target on both occasions. Eventually the away side broke the deadlock in stoppage time when a firmly struck corner slipped through Ron Yates hands and fell kindly to Mark Dennison at the far post to bundle home.
Half time 0-1
As expected the second half was a complete transformation as the home side used the wind to dominate possession and create chances. Within two minutes of the restart Scott Bridges shot low and hard forcing a good save from Uxbridge keeper Paul McCarthy who managed to flick the ball up and over the crossbar. From the resulting corner Luke Robins found space but his header flew well wide of the target. Just moments later a Daniel Brathwaite cross once again found Robins lurking but once again he failed to hit the target. The pressure continued to build and the reds of Uxbridge seemed content to protect what they had by defending deep and breaking when they could.
Steve Castle made a double substitution in the 63rd minute replacing Erkan Okay and Rob Mason with the two Ryans, Ingrey and Towner. Within two minutes the substitution paid off as a Danny May corner was collected by Ingrey to roll back to May who delivered a deep cross finding Liam McDevitt unmarked to head home with ease.
Chances continued to come, Hoenes cut in and saw his shot well saved, a Scott Bridges free kick beat the wall but not keeper McCarthy and Bradshaw’s effort also from a free kick flew high into the night sky.
The Crows pressed for the winner but Uxbridge were not ready to roll over and continued to break with effectiveness causing moments of concern in the home defence. Their best chance came with just five minutes remaining, with men over in the box Uxbridge looked certain to score, the first shot was blocked leaving keeper Yates sitting on his backside on the goal line, the ball rebounded to an Uxbridge player who lifted the ball over the head of the stricken keeper but somehow Yates managed to extend his “go-go gadget” arms up to grab the ball before it crossed the line.
Moments later Uxbridge substitute Marek received his second yellow for an identical offence minutes earlier and left the field leaving Uxbridge to defend the final moments with 10 men for a well deserved point.
Team: Yates, May, Brathwaite, Scott Bridges (c), McDevitt, De La Salle, Okay (Towner), Bradshaw, Mason (Ingrey), Robins (Watters), Hoenes
Subs not used – Powell, Stuart Bridges
