Ryan Lockett scores a hat-trick for impressive Royston

SSMFL Premier Division

Biggleswade United 1-6 Royston Town

ROYSTON TOWN bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Dunstable Town by recording a comprehensive victory away at Biggleswade United on Tuesday night.

This was an excellent away performance by the Crows, who were almost out of sight at half time thanks to goals from Ricky Young, Tom Malins and Ryan Lockett.

A Biggleswade penalty just after the break did little to swing the tide in a match that was every bit as one-sided as the final scoreline suggests, and further strikes from Kaan Fehmi and two from Lockett – to complete his hat-trick – sealed an impressive win at Second Meadow.

The result was made all the more important after news came through of league-leaders Leverstock Green’s first defeat of the season away at Harefield United.

Paul Attfield’s side started brightly and were ahead after just eight minutes. Goalkeeper Jorden Gibson picked out Young on the left wing from a drop kick and the pacy winger proceeded to take on defenders before playing a lovely one-two with Kaan Fehmi on the edge of the box before beating the United ‘keeper at his near post from a narrow angle with his left foot.

Royston continued to pass the ball well as the home side struggled to sustain any kind of attacking threat. Royston doubled their advantage on 30 minutes from the penalty spot after Kaan Fehmi was hacked down from behind by a United defender. Malins stepped up to convert from 12 yards.

And they helped themselves to a third just two minutes later as Royston sensed they could kill the game off before half time. Left-back Ashley Grinham showed great skill and selflessness to thread a neat ball into the area from 25 yards out despite the ball begging to be hit, and Lockett rounded the ‘keeper before smashing home from a tight angle.

Biggleswade missed a glaring opportunity to pull a goal back just before half time when a rare attacking move fell to a striker five yards in front of a near open goal. However he somehow sliced his effort wide when it seemed easier to score.

The Crows began the second half sloppily and conceded a penalty when Martin Standen was adjudged to have fouled. United skipper Sean Murray stepped up to smash the ball down the middle past Gibson.

Despite not playing as well after the break, Royston were still firmly in control, despite United pulling a goal back, and they scored their fourth on 52 minutes. Lockett cut inside from the right flank onto his left foot before seeing his left-footed effort from 25 yards fly past the wrong-footed ‘keeper via a huge deflection off a Biggleswade defender.

Their fifth arrived on 71 minutes when a lovely triangle pasing move between Ross Collins, Young and Lockett on the edge of the United box allowed the latter to prod home from close range to complete his hat-trick.

The result had long since been a formality but there was still time for Kaan Fehmi to get his name on the scoresheet in added on time with a superb shot from all of 30 yards that flew into the top corner. It was a great goal and a fitting way to cap what was an impressive performance by Royston.

Royston Town: Gibson; Endacott, Bradshaw (Plowright 78), McGrandles, Grinham; Malins, Martin Standen (Edwards 76), Collins (c), Young; Lockett (O’Brien 76), K Fehmi.

Attendance: 132