Attfield expecting tough test against Langford

Crows boss wary of bottom side Langford ahead of Saturday’s match at Garden Walk

ROYSTON boss Paul Attfield is expecting a much sterner test from basement-side Langford on Saturday after the Crows handed out a 7-1 thrashing to the Reds back in early October.

It was a night where everything went right for Attfield’s side at Forde Park with George Brinkman and Josh Bronti both netting hat-tricks and things haven’t exactly got much better for Langford since then having won just two games in 20 outings this term.

However, they have recently installed former Hitchin Town reserve coach Mark Teeling as their new manager who has brought in a number of new players and Attfield says they will be a completely different proposition from when the two teams last met.

He said: “They’ve got a new manager and new players and I’m expecting a very tough game. I don’t expect them to be bottom of the league for much longer.”

It has been three weeks since Royston last played a match due to frozen weather conditions and even training sessions on the astro-turf pitches at Meridian School have been cancelled due to the surface being too hard.

Attfield says he is not worried about the lack of football in that time, though, as it’s the same for every team.

“Every team is in the same boat and there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” he added.

“The players do their own fitness work by going to the gym and the time off gives everyone a chance to get back from injuries, but we were just starting come out of that phase a few weeks ago but we will be in better shape on Saturday.”

Attfield says he will have a near full-strength squad to choose from for the visit of Langford to Garden Walk but he won’t be handing debuts to two of his new signings from Hatfield Town.

John McGrandles has to serve a three-match ban following a sending off at his former club while Matt Standen has a one-match suspension.