| Date | Saturday 9th September 2017 |
| Match | Royston Town v Hereford |
| Competition | Evostik League South: Premier Division |
| Result | Lost 4-1 |
| Attendance |
512 |
| Royston Scorers | Marriott |
| Crows MoM |
Adam Murray |
A hat-trick from John Mills saw Hereford come from behind to deservedly beat Royston in the battle of the two promoted champions from last year.
The match started well for Royston as Adam Marriott’s glancing header from a Gus Scott-Morriss free kick gave the home side a 6th minute advantage. The lead was short lived though as 10 minutes later Mills was fouled on the edge of the box and he dusted himself down to curl in the equaliser around a poorly positioned Royston wall.
The first half continued at a brisk pace that was punctuated by a number of free kicks being interspersed with some enterprising play from both sides. However ultimately both sides failed to find a real cutting edge with the only clear chance falling to Scott Bridges who saw his effort well turned away by Horsell in the visiting goal.
Early in the second half James Potton missed a golden opportunity for the Crows to put them back in front and from there on in Hereford took control. Mills added his second from the penalty spot in the 55th minute after a handball was awarded as the Royston defence tried to block a cross. His third followed shortly after as Gary Preen created space and teed up Mills who drove the ball home.
Royston went down to 10 men for the last 10 minutes as Lee Chappell was forced off the field through injury, with the home side having used all their subs.
The icing was put on the cake for Hereford in the 89th minute as that man Mills danced across the home defence and set up substitute Pablo Haysham who confidently finished in the bottom corner.
Royston: 1-Welch, 2-Scott-Morriss, 3-Chappell, 4-Bridges, Scott ©, 5-Murray (Castiglione 64), 6-Brathwaite, 7- Asafu-Adjaye, 8-Corcoran (Oyinsan 45), 9-Potton, 10-Powell (14-Ingrey 45), 11-Marriott
Unused: 12-Vasey, 15- Bridges, Stuart
Attendance: 512
| ROYSTON TOWN | HEREFORD | |
| 4 | EFFORTS ON TARGET | 4 |
| 3 | EFFORTS OFF TARGET | 2 |
| 1 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 4 |
| 23 | FREE KICKS AWARDED | 12 |
| 2 | CORNERS | 4 |
| 3 | YELLOW CARDS | 1 |
| 0 | RED CARDS |
0 |
