Attfield delighted with Crows' progression in FA Vase

Wellingborough Town 0 Royston Town 4

FA Vase Second Round

ROYSTON Town will host either Stanway Rovers or Hadley in the FA Vase Third Round after a superb result at United Counties Premier League side Wellingborough Town.

The game had survived an early morning and two pre-match pitch inspections by the referee with the monsoon weather conditions and heavily sanded pitch not giving cause for optimism.

The game was given the go ahead 20 minutes before the kick-off with the rain subsiding but it was always going to be tricky for both teams in the conditions.

Manager Paul Attfield was without Josh Bronti for this game but was released of defensive headaches with both David Cain and Danny Apostolos returning to the squad from injuries.

Wellingborough started furiously but Royston did more than contain their advances with a great shape to their defensive system and it wasn't long before Ross Collins, Carl Edwards and man-of-the-match Ryan Lockett started pulling the strings in midfield to put Royston in control of the game.

Lockett had the first chance in the 10th minute when his superb 20-yard free kick smacked against the crossbar with no Royston player quick enough to the rebound and the ball was scrambled clear.

A Lockett through ball two minutes later found Ricky Young's well timed run but his dinked shot brushed the 'keeper's body and went just wide for a corner.

The pressure finally told in the 17th minute when a great move down the left ended with Luke Robins crossing for Lockett to bullet in a header from 10 yards into the bottom corner.

Robins was replaced after half an hour, having been ill during the latter part of the week, by the fit again Apostolos with Arin Fehmi moving forward onto the left wing.

The loss did not affect the team and within three minutes the lead had been doubled with Young's superb trickery in the box ending with a pin point cross finding Lockett's head before the ball found the back of the net via the crossbar.

Wellingborough resorted to a longer ball approach and had a clear chance soon after when a cleared free kick was returned into the area and a volley was sent over from eight yards.

Royston though were in the ascendancy and, in front of a large following which outnumbered the home support, were rewarded with a third goal moments before half time when Lockett's superbly delivered free kick was headed in at the near post by Young.

The hosts were better in the second half having changed their formation but Royston created the better chances in the opening period.

Lockett, Scott Crosk and Tom Malins all had fierce efforts saved by the 'keeper and Malins also had a finish ruled out for offside.

The scoring was completed with 25 minutes remaining with Lockett creating the opportunity for Carl Edwards to shoot left footed high into the net from close range after good work by Malins down the right.

With the game more than won Royston dropped their pace allowing the hosts to have their best period with Jorden Gibson making two tremendous saves and Lewis Endacott making a last ditch goal saving tackle after Gibson had failed to hold another shot.

Attfield said: "I was genuinely concerned that the weather conditions and pitch conditions would affect our normal game and personally would have been happy for the referee to cancel the game.

"Fortunately the team didn't share my concerns shrugging off the conditions and just put in an immense first half performance that pretty much killed off the tie.

"Our creativity was at the optimum level again on a difficult surface and our delivery for the opening three goals was sublime.

"To win by the margin we did at this stage of the competition is a tremendous boost for everyone and adds some genuine excitement to the season."

Royston: Gibson, Endacott, Fehmi (Crosk), Jones, Stocker, Collins, Edwards, Malins, Young (Dullaway), Lockett, Robins (Apostolos). Unused subs: Dolan, Cain.