Steve Castle’s Royston Town were back to their best on Saturday, sweeping Dorchester aside 3-1 after losing out on penalties to Eastbourne Borough in the FA Trophy last Tuesday.

Goals from James Potton in the 43rd minute and a second half double from Josh Oyinsan cancelled out Tom Blair’s 20th minute opener for Dorchester before their captain, Gary Bowles, saw red in the 70th minute for a bad challenge.

The Crows are unbeaten in eight of their last nine games, only losing to Evo-Stik Southern Premier League leaders Kings Lynn in that period.

Speaking to Royston Crow, Castle said: “I didn’t think the result was fair on Dorchester but we’re pleased with the win and we’ve got to be very grateful for Josh Tibbitts (goalkeeper on-loan from Peterborough).

“I’m also really pleased for Josh (Oyinsan). He’s taken a while to get going but hopefully that double will settle him down and there will be more goals to come.”

The Crows crashed out of the FA Trophy on penalties in a third round qualifying replay on Tuesday against Eastbourne Borough. They drew 1-1 on the south coast before a 2-2 draw back at Garden Walk against the Vanarama National League South side. They lost 4-3 on penalties.

Castle - a Leyton Orient legend in his playing days, making more than 250 appearances - has seen his side concede first in four of their last five fixtures, and have made a habit of having of coming from behind all season.

However, the boss isn’t worried: “We’re happy to trail by one goal early and get ourselves back into it. (On the sloped pitch of Garden Walk) we prefer to play with the slope against us in the first half and then look forward to it being with us in the second 45.”

Castle’s side travel to Banbury United on Saturday. The Oxfordshire side won five from five at the start of the season but didn’t win throughout November and are struggling with poor form.

Castle said: “They were flying at the start of the season, they were right at the top of the table but they’ve dropped down now. They will still be a very good team and tough to compete against.

“I don’t think there’s a massive difference in the teams this year, I’ve seen one or two that are a class above but Banbury would be within our class. If we perform to what we can it’ll be a good game.”

Royston hold two games in hand over most of the teams in the league and are realistic play-off contenders; impressive for a newly promoted side.

Castle said: “We’ve got to play some of the top teams but if we do win our games in hand it’ll be interesting, but we need to win those games first.”

The Crows will then visit Kettering Town on Tuesday. Kettering are amongst the fight for automatic promotion and will prove a tough test.