Royston Town ‘A’ 2 Great Chishill 2

GREAT CHISHILL battled back twice to earn a draw against Royston Town ‘A’ in a tough physical encounter at Garden Walk on Saturday.

With a strong wind behind the hosts, Chishill had their backs to the wall for most of the first half, with Elliot Drury’s shot over the bar their only real attempt on goal.

Although Royston were not creating many clear chances, one penalty box scramble resulted in claims for a handball but the referee waved away the protests. Town thought they had taken the lead early in the second half, but the goal was ruled out for offside when Adam Slater needlessly toe-poked Scott Crosk’s goalbound shot over the line.

They could have been made to pay when Michael Bloss brought down Gary Radford in the area, but Elliot Drury’s penalty was saved by Lee Geraghty.

Instead it was the visitors who were made to pay as Ben Cooper finished off a storming run at the other end by blasting a shot into the roof of the net to give Royston the lead. Complacency then cost Royston as Louis Boulter dispossessed Tom Bradley who responded by bringing down Boulter for Chishill’s second spot kick, which Radford slotted home.

With the game on a knife edge, both teams were playing for local pride and going for all three points. Royston looked to have secured them with 15 minutes left when Crosk’s curling cross from the right dipped over Andy Knight’s head into the Chishill goal just inside the far post.

But more drama ensued when Colin Saward floated in a free kick with three minutes left and Jonathan Drury powered a header into the top corner.

The visitors almost clinched it at the end, but Gareth Edey was just inches away from connecting with George Kew’s low cross, and the points were shared.

Chishill: Knight, Guerrero, Saward, Bennett, Gardiner, Kew, Tidey, E Drury, J Drury, Boulter, Radford. Subs: Edey, Morley.