Hertford 2 Royston 3 ROYSTON put in a spirited performance to come back from a two goal deficit to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Hertford. The match began abysmally for the visitors when Hertford opened the scoring after a minute from a scr

Hertford 2 Royston 3

ROYSTON put in a spirited performance to come back from a two goal deficit to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Hertford.

The match began abysmally for the visitors when Hertford opened the scoring after a minute from a scrappy short corner, and the home side doubled their lead not longer after when another short corner was well dispatched into the bottom right of Chris Markham's goal.

Royston struggled to inject any fluency into their game and matters were made worse when Ralf Louwers received a green card for ungentlemanly conduct.

Once Royston settled, they began to hold longer spells of possession and the breakthrough came when Darren Hicks found Nick Ross in space, and Ross found the back of the net.

The Crows could sense a comeback and began to stretch the solid Hertford side, and their persistence paid off when they scored an equaliser through Graham Mack.

Just before the break Royston scored their third, and the game's last goal, when Mack found space on the right and coolly finished for his second of the game.

Hertford came out fighting after the break and forced Royston into defending for much of the second period but a steadfast defensive line frustrated the hosts, who created little from open play.

Royston produced very little up front in the second half as they sought to defend their lead, although Hicks did manage to beat the home keeper with one shot but the ball went just inches wide.

Both sides saw a player sin binned in the final stages of the match - Royston's player was Dave Barker - and Hertford were denied a clear penalty stroke late on, but the scoreline remained and Royston finished the winners.

Royston IV 4 MBDA 1

ROYSTON'S fourth team continued their emphatic start to the season with a hard earned win over a resilient MBDA side that keeps them top of the table.

Royston pressurised early but found the MBDA keeper on fine form as he made five top class saves in a matter of seconds from the entire Royston front line.

It took a magical run by Steve Gourd, who drove along the goal line, to create the opening score.

Gourd picked out Tim Yow at the top of the D who slotted home to open the scoring.

Royston would have increased their lead soon after it wasn't for the sensational man of the match performance by the opposition's keeper who made a series of saves with every part of his body, including three with his head.

The second half started well and a great short corner routine was struck home well by Steve Gourd for his and Royston's second of the game.

Tim Yow made it 3-0 with another well taken goal before an unusual error at the back by Mike Papworth saw MBDA pull a goal back.

MBDA found a second gear and it took all the skill of John Gourd, James Johnson, Tim Yow and a very impressive young James Dilley to break up their play in the middle of the field.

Beeve Gourd then finished off a fine performance by dancing through the MBDA defence on the half way line and sprinting through to slot past the keeper.

Royston V 3 Stevenage VI 5

THE fifths started with a full team this week against a strong Stevenage side, but play started slowly with each side testing the other's defence.

It was halfway through the first half that Richard Bowen opened the scoring when he hit home from a tight angle after a deflection off the keeper's pad

Stevenage responded with a well worked goal and the teams went in at half time level at one goal apiece.

Shortly after halftime, Stevenage pushed hard against the Royston defence and broke through with a fantastic strike.

Not to be outdone, Royston pushed forward and after a confusing flurry of strikes that left the keeper bewildered, Bowen slotted in an easy second.

Stevenage responded with another goal almost immediately, but Royston were again able to match them when Bowen finished off a well-worked team goal for his hat trick.

Royston were unable to continue matching Stevenage goal for goal and despite some strong saves by Berry in Royston's goal, their opponents were able to find two more goals to take the match 5-3.