Colts zip to 13th straight victory

Royston Colts U-9 A 3 Melbourn Youth 0 COLTS reached the landmark of 70 games unbeaten over the last three years and their 13th straight win of the season on Saturday. Pressure paid off when Jordan Campbell took a quick a throw-in to allow Matthew Stout to run on and fire home from the edge of the box. Colts' second goal came when Campbell won the ball in midfield, and passed it out wide to Richard Jonas, who went past a defender and struck the ball well to score. In the second half Melbourn started to play better football and the game became more even. The Royston defence stood firm and their third goal came from a good clearance down field by keeper Corey Anderson, and Campbell combined well with Long, who turned a defender and struck the ball low past the keeper. Melbourn Dynamos U-8 A 1 Baldock Templars A 0 Melbourn won by the only goal for a fourth successive victory. Sam Bedlow went close after good work by Charles Johnson, and then Bedlow's approach work was not matched by his finish, straight into the keeper's hands. Eventually, Johnson drove home his 15th goal of the season to give Melbourn the lead. Baldock were denied an equaliser just before half time, hitting a post. An evenly matched second half saw both teams have chances, with Alex Maskell linking Dynamos' defence and attack well with strong forward running. Baldock finished the stronger, working several shooting chances, only to have their best attempt turned round by Rebecca Brooker. Hitchin Town U-14 3 Royston Celtic 2 FOR the second week in succession Celtic under-achieved against a side lower in the table. They were a goal down, but pulled level with an excellent half-volley from Conor Barnard. Hitchin regained the lead midway through the half only for Barnard to equalise with a well-placed header. Barnard then hit the bar, only for Hitchin to take the lead again. The second half was a physical affair with Celtic unable to find an equaliser, and keeper Cooper called into action only once. St Neots U-11 0 Baldock Templars 3 BALDOCK completed a well-deserved victory over a determined St Neots team. Ben Pearson had an early shot pushed on to the bar, but opened the scoring with a left foot volley into the top corner. Templars doubled their lead through Sam Talbot. Lewis Barker saw a shot well saved, and Bonham Harper fired just widefrom a good through ball by Joe Frazer-Bossom. Near the end Baldock completed the scoring when a corner from Anthony Geary was scrambled home by Jhai Dhillon. Baldock Crusaders U-10 0 Royston Celtic White 0 THIS game proved that goalless draws do not have to be boring as Crusaders and Celtic, who are neck and neck for fourth place in the Crow League, played out an entertaining thriller. Celtic had Crusaders under pressure for the first five minutes with a number of corners. But Crusaders finished the first half with Alex Close hitting two great shots, the first well saved and the second just wide. An injury to Sam Kendle saw Jordan Massey taking over the keeper's gloves in the second half for Baldock. Player of the match Daniel Nicholson continued in fine form, his runs down the right wing causing Celtic lots of problems. But Celtic were always a threat on the break, and Iain Angus and Ryan Savage in Baldock's defence had their hands full. Royston had a penalty but Massey pulled off a great save. Then Nicholson put Matthew Judges through but his shot was also well saved. Royston Colts U-9 B 4 Melbourn 0 COLTS B also continued a fine run of form with their eighth win of the season. A mistake by the Melbourn keeper saw a poor goal kick go straight to Bradley Sell who calmly scored as the keeper scrambled back to his goal. George Wheeler-Bailey added Colts' second with a low shot under the keeper from the edge of the box. Daniel Goodfellow assisted with the third goal when he won the ball in midfield and slid the ball through to Jack Freeman, who fired into the top corner. Sell scored the fourth in a similar fashion to his first, winning the ball from a Melbourn goal kick, this time riding a couple of tackles to score from six yards out. Sawbridgeworth Jun Reds U-11 3 Royston Town Colts A 2 A LATE goal was not enough to give Colts a share of the Crow League points on Sunday. Sawbo enjoyed much of the early possession, using their pace to split open Colts' defensive line. Colts hit back, with Jack Bailey and John Middlemass showing good skills and unselfish running. The hosts took the lead with a tap-in as Royston waited for an offside decision which did not come. Colts rallied, Lewis Harley creative on the right, and Ashley Chapman deputising brilliantly in defence. Juniors doubled their lead from a well-worked corner on the right but Colts refused to be beaten, Victor Faletta and Harry Stafford leading the line to great effect. Jack Bailey collected a good pass from Harley, and rounded the keeper to pull one back. Colts made several changes for the second half, Matt Evans and Lucas Sekobawane replacing Faletta and McLean upfront, and with Jordan Hall and Lewis Hunter on for Stafford and Middlemass. However, Juniors began well, forcing Neil Smith to make a string of fine saves. At the other end, Evans, Hall and Sekobawane combined well to win a series of corners for Colts. Then, as Colts pushed for a deserved equaliser, Juniors scored again after a quick break down the middle. Sekobawane then went close with a header, and then was just offside, having an effort disallowed.