Blueharts 3 Royston 3 TEN man Royston held on to share the points in their East League opener. The match started with the home side holding all of the possession, and it was not long before Blueharts went ahead. The goal managed to kick start a lethargic

Blueharts 3 Royston 3

TEN man Royston held on to share the points in their East League opener.

The match started with the home side holding all of the possession, and it was not long before Blueharts went ahead.

The goal managed to kick start a lethargic Royston side, as they began to outplay their opponents.

Graham Mack managed to equalise through an excellent short corner.

Royston should have taken the lead on a number of occasions, and the goal finally came as Nick Freeman slotted home a penalty.

Blueharts again began to push forward. James Yarrow received a green card, and with a minute to play Blueharts fired in their second.

The second half was end to end throughout, but the home side struck first when they converted a penalty flick.

Both teams had further chances to score, but failed to do so. Then with 20 minutes to play Jerry Ross got sin-binned for Royston, putting them on the back foot.

Although under intense pressure 10 man Royston managed to keep Blueharts out. Eventually, the travelling side found an equaliser through Nick Hurd.

Royston came away reasonable happy from a game that in previous seasons they would have definitely lost.

Royston II 3 Blueharts IV 1

ROYSTON made a flying start in their first league match of the season with a win against a strong Blueharts side.

The visiting team got off to a good start and penned Royston in for the first 10 minutes of the match.

Their persistence paid off with a well-taken goal catching the home side on the break.

Royston seemed to wake up and began to mount pressure on the Blueharts defence with some wonderful interplay from forwards Colin Weir, Nathan Sugden and Chris Watson.

Royston finally equalised with a sweetly struck goal from Watson from the edge of the area.

The hosts picked up the second half where they left off and again the forward line proved to be too much for the Blueharts defence as Sugden and Weir danced around players to set up Watson with an easy second.

Blueharts still looked menacing but time and again their attacks were broken down with some excellent defending from Clive Biddecombe, Nick Hooton, George Moffatt and man-of-the-match Tim Gass.

The times they did get a chance on goal an inspired Craig Jackson kept the ball form crossing the line with some acrobatic keeping.

As the game wore on midfielders Richard Huby and Michael Hill got more opportunity to aid the attacking line and this paid off when Hill released Sugden to creep round the back of the defence to set up Weir for a well taking goal on the reverse stick.

Royston managed to shut up shop for the rest of the game, as Blueharts tried to break them down, for a hard fought and well deserved win.

Royston III 3

Bishop's Stortford 2

ROYSTON settled well into their first league game of the season against a team that was relegated last season.

After 20 minutes into the match Royston went ahead with a fine goal from Carl Taylor.

The visitors were not allowed to get into the match and left Royston in the lead at half time.

Royston's second goal came soon into the second half from a short corner that was turned into the goal by Steven Gourd.

Stortford then raised their game and was soon back on the score sheet as Royston lost the edge for a few moments.

The visitors then made it all square with a late goal.

Royston's great moment came with just seconds to the final whistle when Carl Taylor gave Royston a well deserved win with his second excellent goal.

Broxbourne 5 Royston IV 1

ALTHOUGH Broxbourne deservedly won this game they were flattered by the margin of victory.

Royston took the lead scoring from the first short corner; Paul Harris reacted quickly smashing the loose ball past the keeper as the home defence stood watching.

Broxbourne then scored two quick goals; both converted from flashing crosses giving goalkeeper Phil O'Donnell no chance.

Unfortunately, the home side extended their lead just before half time with a very soft goal.

For most of the second half Royston played with much greater determination and were able to put the home defence under pressure.

However this territorial advantage didn't translate into goals. Broxbourne always looked dangerous on the break and although the defence coped well, with Phil playing particularly well, two more goals were conceded.

Despite the result Royston can take heart from the way they played and the performance of many of the youngsters.