Royston maintain prefect start to season with win over Aylesbury United

Spartan South Midlands Premier Division

Royston Town 1-0 Aylesbury United

A STUNNING late header from Jack Bradshaw maintained Royston’s 100 per cent start to the season on Saturday after beating Aylesbury United.

Manager Paul Attfield welcomed back Tom Malins, Kaan Fehmi and John McGrandles into his side after missing the previous weekend’s FA Cup defeat and from the off Royston went on the attack and had early opportunities to take a lead.

In the first minute Malins met a left-wing cross on the volley and, despite being unchallenged, his connection was blocked for a corner. From the resulting set-piece Kann Fehmi flicked the ball goalwards but the ball was turned onto the crossbar and scrambled clear by the goalkeeper.

In open play Ricky Young curled a 20-yard effort just wide while Ryan Lockett ran onto a headed through ball but delayed his shot too long and defenders recovered to thwart the danger.

With Royston unfortunate not to be in front, Aylesbury had there best spell towards the half time interval in which they created two of the best chances of the game. Their big centre forward, Melford Simpson, missed a sitter when he reacted to a defensive slip and despite being clear on goal he wastefully shot high and wide. And moments later an excellent cross was headed wide by Baines with no Royston player in attendance.

The game remained goalless at the interval but the second half was to be all Royston as they really took their game to a different level and only Stilltoe in the visiting goal showed much resilience with a number of high class saves.

Kaan Fehmi had an early shot spilled but not held but the save from Ricky Young’s follow up was top drawer. Young had another good chance from good build-up play but shot straight at Stilltoe and the winger was on hand to head in a superbly whipped in cross from the right but just missed the ball from six yards out.

The save of the game came just before the winning goal, Lockett racing clear in the left channel and his low cross was met on the volley by Kann Fehmi but superbly tipped over from point-blank range.

From the resulting corner on 70 minutes, Bradshaw met the ball with a thumping header from 12 yards that powered into the roof of the net.

Aylesbury never created one clear chance that looked likely to effect the one-goal advantage and despite a late appeal for a penalty following a suspected handball, Royston were as dominant in defence as they were in attack in and a third consecutive league clean sheet was their reward for their efforts.

Attfield commented after the match; “Overall I felt we controlled the majority of the game against good opposition that have started their season well. Our creativity was exceptional and it was another case of just remaining patient.

“I felt we looked much fitter than our opposition as the game went on which helped us maintain good control of the game and, but for their goalkeeper, we probably could have won by a greater margin. Another excellent three points for us, though.”

Royston Town: Gibson; Endacott, A Fehmi, McGrandles, Bradshaw; Standen, Collins, Malins, KFehmi (OBrien); Lockett, Young (Edwards).