ROYSTON Town lost their second match in four days at Hertford on Tuesday night despite taking an early lead. Paul Attfield s team couldn t have wished for a better start as they set about their mid-table opponents in a determined fashion. Lewis Endacott s

ROYSTON Town lost their second match in four days at Hertford on Tuesday night despite taking an early lead.

Paul Attfield's team couldn't have wished for a better start as they set about their mid-table opponents in a determined fashion.

Lewis Endacott's brilliant free-kick from the right flank found an unmarked Tom Malins who had all the time in the world to place his header past the despairing dive of the 'keeper and into the bottom corner.

Royston were by far the better team in the opening exchanges and it looked like only a matter of time before they extended their advantage.

And they nearly did five minutes after the first goal when Malins again found himself with the freedom of Hertingfordbury Park before firing a vicious low drive from outside the box that the home 'keeper did excellently to tip wide of his right hand post.

The Crows knocked the ball around well in the first 20 minutes and both Endacott and Ricky Young in particular looked dangerous in the channels as they looked to get in behind the Hertford defence at every opportunity.

However, the tempo in the Crows' play dipped notably as the home side finally began to impose themselves on the match.

And just past the half-hour mark, they grabbed an equaliser that was about as easy on the eye as the ugly looking playing surface.

A free-kick from the left caused havoc in the box as the ball bounced around on the line for what seemed like an age before a Hertford player eventually bundled the ball over the line.

Into the second half and it was a poor start from the Crows as they conceded a second just five minutes in to leave Attfield fuming on the touchline.

A long ball was allowed to bounce by the Crows which left their defence exposed and the ball was played to the pacy Hertford striker who duly thumped the ball past Jorden Gibson from 12 yards.

The Crows struggled to get back into the game after that and had Gibson to thank for making a brilliant save from point-blank range.

The Crows did step it up a gear in the final 15 minutes but they found it difficult to break down the home side who were content to keep men behind the ball and maintain their slender lead.

Young had their best opportunity a few minutes from the end when he surged into the penalty area after jinking past the defence only to see his shot hit the side netting.

A number of balls were pumped into the box in the dying moments that came to nothing and in the end it was a disappointing display from the Crows.