| Date | Saturday 15 September 2012 |
| Match | Royston Town v Aveley |
| Competition | FA Carlsberg Trophy: Preliminary Round |
| Result | Won 5-1 |
| Royston Scorers | Matt Standen(2), Ingrey, Lockett(2) |
| Attendance | 136 |
| Crows MoM | Ryan Ingrey |
The Crows competed in the FA Trophy for the first time and progressed to the first qualifying round with a devastating three goal burst within five minutes early in the second half. It was by no means a stroll in the park as the scoreline suggests as most of the game was fairly evenly contested but the three goals between the 53rd and 57th minute mark were crucial.
Paul Attfield had some selection problems before the game with both Lewis Endacott and Luke Robins picking up injuries in the midweek FA Cup defeat and Joe De La Salle still on the treatment table. Martin Standen returned to the squad after his recent re-signing and centre half Liam McDevitt made his debut in defence after his midweek transfer from Barton Rovers.
The Crows looked a little disjointed in the first half, possibly from the demands of Tuesday's FA Cup extra time replay defeat and despite Aveley looking the more livelier both teams struggled in the final third of the pitch and not much was created.
After a cagey opening Royston took a 14th minute lead when Lee Wilson's whipped in corner found an unmarked Matt Standen just two yards from goal with the ball striking the forward and lifting into the roof of the net.
This failed to galvanise the hosts who were competitive but not commanding and although Aveley were technically better they created so little but were gifted an equaliser on 40 minutes. Just before the leveller Matt Standen should have increased his side's lead when he beat the offside trap but had his effort blocked by the keeper's legs.
The equaliser was poor on Royston's part. A throw in by the corner flag was not threatened and an unpressurised cross was met by a simple placed eight yard header at the far post. Aveley probably deserved their leveller on balance of play and that was how it remained to the interval.
The Crows have delivered a fair few decent second half performances and whilst their game needed to be lifted no one could have foreseen the quick goal-burst so early in the period.
They retook the lead on 53 minutes. Ryan Ingrey looked to have been fouled in the area while challenging for the ball with the keeper but as a defender delayed clearing the ball Jack Bradshaw robbed his dithering opponent and crossed for Matt Standen to convert at the far post.
Two minutes later the lead was doubled when Royston's best move of the game got at the visiting defence and Tom Malins crossed for Ryan Ingrey to send a firm header high into the net from ten yards.
The game was made safe with Royston's next attack as again Aveley got caught on a counter attack with Ryan Lockett racing onto Ross Collins's chipped ball and firing wide of the keeper's dive.
Aveley made changes and despite having lots of the ball failed to test Will Norris in goal. A trio of efforts cleared the cross bar and one goalbound angled drive was blocked by Bradshaw but is was the home side who looked likely to add to their tally with some quick advances on goal.
Matt Standen should have completed a hat trick when a fine Taylor Parr cross found the forward unmarked at the far post but he miskicked his volley wide.
Ryan Lockett then raced onto Kaan Fehmi's through ball but despite beating the keeper to the ball dinked his effort just the wrong side of the post. Lockett made up for the miss in injury time in similar circumstances, this time running onto Tom Malins' through ball to fire confidently into the corner from 15 yards and complete a resounding margin of victory.
Team: Norris, Parr, Wilson (Apostolos), McDevitt, Bradshaw, Collins, Edwards (Fehmi), Matt Standen, Lockett, Ingrey. Unused: Martin Standen, Howard
