ROYSTON TOWN manager Paul Attfield says he’s looking forward to getting his side back playing regular football.

The Crows have been starved of match action in recent months having played just six league matches since November 20 due to poor weather and a sporadic fixture list.

And Attfield admits it’s been difficult for his team to keep hold of any momentum over the winter period but remains hopeful they can go on a good run when they get back to league action on February 12 against Harefield United.

They faced an almost identical scenario last season before going on a fantastic run from the beginning of March where they won 15 of their remaining 18 league games – a run which Attfield would love to replicate this time around.

“Consistency is what you want,” said Attfield.

“Hopefully we can learn from last season when we had lots of games and no time to think in between. It was game – day off – game – day off for a couple of months and it allowed everyone to get into a good routine and we won a lot of games.

“We haven’t had that lately and, for example, it would have been ideal to have a game straight after the Holmer Green defeat on Saturday but because of the fixture list we had to arrange a friendly for the Tuesday night instead.”

Royston beat The Association FC 7-0 in Tuesday night’s friendly in what Attfield feels was a decent exercise for the players and a chance to maintain their match fitness levels.

And with no league match scheduled for this Saturday, Royston will play Herts County Premier league side Standon & Puckeridge in another friendly match.

While not ideal, Attfield says the friendly will at least provide the opportunity to give game time to Martin Standen and club captain Ross Collins who are both currently serving a three-match ban.

Royston’s 4-3 defeat at home to Holmer Green was one that frustrated Attfield after a number of defensive mistakes gifted the visitors the three points. His side had kept three clean sheets in as many games before Saturday and Attfield says it was just one of those days.

He added: “It was frustrating given that we’d been very good defensively for the last three or four games and it was just one of those games.

“Individual mistakes cost us on the day even though our performance wasn’t overly bad. They were just short-sighted errors but you’ll always have games like that at this level – although I probably saw enough mistakes in that match to last half a season.”

It was a weekend in which Royston could really have done with picking up three points as league-leaders Chalfont St Peter were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by in-form Colney Heath.

Chalfont still have a game in hand over third placed Royston and a 12-point cushion so promotion continues to look a far distant dream for Attfield’s side.