Date	Saturday 23 February 2013
Match	Beaconsfield SYCOB v Royston Town
Competition	Evo-Stik League Southern: Central Division One
Result	Lost 1-0
Royston Scorers	–
Attendance	63
Crows MoM	Ryan Ingrey

Romeo To The Rescue For The Rams
By Jez Izod

Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Well Yashiwa Romeo answered on 24 minutes to give Beaconsfield all three points in a lacklustre Royston display at Holloways Park.

It all started so promising with the away side attacking from the off. Lee Wilson’s clever run found Robins in the area but there was a distinct lack of support for the tricky winger and the Rams quickly cleared the danger.

On seven minutes, a muscling move by Carl Edwards opened up the Beaconsfield midfield and his pin point pass was picked up by Ryan Ingrey, the forward player had no support with him and Yiadom Yeboah temporarily cleared the danger. However this loose ball was picked up by Luke Robins whose thunderbolt effort was superbly saved by Sam Southerden.

This though, was as good as it got for the Crows as Beaconsfield slowly came into the game. Lee Wilson lost the ball in a dangerous area which was latched onto by Romeo, luckily De La Salle was there to marshall the ball away.

Royston pressed forward on 16 minutes as the hard working Ingrey, with his never give up attitude found Edwards lurking menacing in the home area, his shot was superbly blocked by Yeboah.

Further Royston attacks ended with endless balls peppering the Beaconsfield clubhouse and gates as Royston lacked a finisher in front of goal.

Disaster struck on 24 minutes after some Laurel & Hardy defending between Will Norris and Joe De La Salle found the Royston keeper in no mans land. Romeo had the simple job of placing the ball into the empty net.

It was now the home side with the momentum and Jack Bradshaw had to be alert to clear the danger on 30 minutes, when Aaron Crouch burst into the area, only to be superbly tackled by the Royston number 2.

Bradshaw was also the instigator of an excellent Royston attack on the stroke of half time when his run and cross down the Beaconsfield right flank found Malins in the area, his deflected shot was saved by the home stopper.

The away side did not learn from the defensive frailties and two minutes after the restart the Royston defence was cut open and with an open goal at his mercy, Couch blazed over from 5 yards. It really was a case of “more difficult to miss!”

On 50 minutes another defensive lapse allowed Romeo to roam freely into the Royston area, his shot was superbly saved by Norris and the rebound fizzed over the bar from the wasteful Couch.

The Crows realising they were trailing, did wake up and with some vocal backing from their fans, pressed forward for that elusive equalising goal. On the hour mark, a cross from Robins found Wilson, but his right footed shot whizzed over the cross bar.

Royston made changes on the 70 minute mark with Matt Standen and Ryan Lockett replacing Malins and Edwards. With a fresh attacking threat on the pitch things looked promising when an excellent pass from Ingrey found Wilson who was tackled by Ashleigh James.

It could have been far worse for the Crows on the 80 minute mark when clever interchange play between Upward, Couch and Poulton again split the away defence. McGrandles was equal to this and mopped up the danger.

Two minutes later, Aianlekoko burst into the area, beating a McGrandles challenge but his effort flew just wide of the Royston upright.

The Crows did have the ball in the back of the net from Matt Standen on 89 minutes, but he was adjudged to have been offside.

Shortly afterwards, the Referee blew for full time, much to the relief of the freezing cold travelling support.

Overall, a lacklustre display. Royston lacked that cutting edge in the final third and will hopefully bounce back quickly against Leighton Town on Tuesday evening at Garden Walk. Kick Off 7:45pm

Royston Town: Norris, Bradshaw, Wilson, McGrandles, De La Salle, Spencer, Edwards (Lockett), Malins (Standen), Ingrey, Collins (c), Robins. Subs not used: Parr, McDevitt