| Date | Tuesday 11 March 2014 |
| Match | Royston Town v Egham Town |
| Competition | Calor League: Central Division One |
| Result | Drew 2-2 |
| Attendance |
74 |
| Royston Scorers | Fehmi(pen), Dobson |
| Crows MoM |
Reece Dobson |
In a much improved performance Royston Town came back from being a goal down twice to take a draw against the in-form away team Egham Town. This match was a replay of the abandoned game where defender Jack Bradshaw had suffered a play stopping injury but it was good to see him back on the pitch for this replayed contest.
We also saw the return of suspended players to the squad with Lewis Endacott and Kaan Fehmi coming straight back into the starting line-up, both having good games, and Joe De La Salle taking an unused place on the bench.
The first half started at a high pace and continued at such for the majority of the game. Royston were retaining a good shape and attacking well via the double act of Fehmi and Reece Dobson with Ross Collins and Ryan Ingrey providing more dynamic width tonight. The referee chose to let multiple misdemeanours go tonight, boringly pointing out areas of the pitch where they occurred.
With good competitive action and multiple half chances only seen throughout the first 44 minutes the only contentious incident was when a direct run on goal by Fehmi was halted by a cynical Egham tackle and the woefully behind play official inexplicably produced a yellow card for the incredulous striker.
With half-time approaching two goals came quickly. First a superb finish for Egham by Reis Stenislaus, looping a crisp first time strike over the helpless Nick Thompson. Then in quick response a surging left side run by the lively Dobson was halted by an equally cynical take down and Fehmi stepped up to fire home the resulting spot kick.
The second half was mainly the home-side producing good build up play, but falling frustratingly short in front of goal. Egham keeper Jamie Norris had a fantastic half keeping his team in this game with numerous good stops, notably turning a well-directed shot by Fehmi, onto the post diving full length to his right.
Against the general run of play on 75 minutes the visitor’s only on target shot of the second half was deflected cruelly past Thompson following a short passage of play when Egham teased the home side defenders on the edge of their own penalty area.
The Crows responded well and seven minutes later a superb through ball by Rob Mason, who had replaced Fehmi who had had a brilliant game, bisected the defence sublimely and Dobson still had a lot to do taking the ball on and slotting a low left foot shot under the flailing Norris.
Royston pressed hard to win this entertaining match, wasting a number of corners and free-kicks on the way, but were generally unlucky in front of goal. It was a much improved performance all round and whilst this was effectively another two home points dropped, it has to be said that against an away side the calibre of the Sarnies a draw was probably a fair result.
Team: Thompson, Collins, Dhillon, Wharton, Bradshaw, Bridges, Mentis, Endacott, Fehmi (Mason), Dobson, Ingrey (Lockett). Subs not used – Hammond, De La Salle, Edwards.
