ROYSTON TOWN manager Paul Attfield says Saturday’s opponents Hanwell Town will prove a stern test – despite the London side’s poor start to the season.

The Geordies currently sit in 15th place in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division table having won two and lost six of their opening eight matches. They also have the worst defensive record in the league having shipped 23 goals so far.

Despite the apparent walkover nature of the match on paper considering the Crows’ 100 per cent start to the campaign, Attfield knows it will be far from that straightforward against a team who, he believes, have two of the best strikers in the division in their ranks.

“Hanwell have got two of the best strikers in the division in Blaise O’Brien and Charlie Baverstock so we aren’t going to be taking them lightly,” Attfield told The Crow.

“They are well capable of scoring goals so you can’t just look at the table and say they’re not a good side. It will be a tough game for us against a technically good team.”

Attfield will welcome back a number of first team players after resting them for Tuesday night’s Challenge Trophy win over Totternhoe, but could be forced to do without defenders Ashley Grinham and Tom Whitaker who both took knocks during the match.

Attfield was pleased with his team’s performance against the Division Two side, after including a number of trialists and youth team players. Seny Diedhiou was one such trialist, who was recommended to Attfield, who now has to make up his mind whether he will sign the striker on a more permanent basis.

Winger Josh Bronti made his first appearance since rejoining the club following a spell at Stotfold last season and Attfield added: “Josh approached me a couple of weeks ago and said he wasn’t enjoying it at Stotfold. I think he regrets leaving last season but he has got a second chance with us now.

“He has got to understand that it’s a squad game and that he’s not going to play every week.

“It was good to look at a few different players on Tueday night and I was expecting a bit of a disjointed performance but it didn’t pan out like that and we won comfortably in the end.”

Royston’s match against Hanwell Town kicks off this Saturday at 3pm at Reynolds Field, Perivale. Should they pick up their seventh straight league victory they could go top of the table should Leverstock Green fail to beat Biggleswade United.