Hatfield Town 0-6 Royston Town

SSMFL Premier Division

Hatfield Town 0-6 Royston Town

ROYSTON TOWN cruised to an emphatic win over Hatfield on Tuesday night and moved to the top of the table.

In truth, the Crows rarely had to get out of second gear against a woeful Blueboys side that hardly had a shot on goal all evening. First half goals from Ryan Lockett, Ricky Young and Kaan Fehmi were followed up by Luke Robins’ first goal since his return to Town and a brace from substitute Matt Standen against his former club.

The match lacked the bite it perhaps might have had should Hatfield old boys Martin Standen, John McGrandles, Jason Beck and Rhys Lawrence been in the Crows’ starting line-up. However, due to injury, Matt Standen was the only one to make an appearance – albeit from the bench – against his former club. Nevertheless this was a confident and strong performance from Paul Attfield’s side, although the Crows boss was left counting the cost of the victory having lost Lockett and Ross Collins to injury and both now look doubtful for Saturday’s match at home to Holmer Green.

Royston took the lead after 19 minutes when Lockett raced onto a ball over the top before finishing through the keeper’s legs from close range.

The match was fairly even at this point and Hatfield had a great chance to equalise shortly afterwards when Jason Caswell cut inside right-back Lewis Endacott before seeing his fierce shot from close-range superbly saved by the face of ‘keeper Will Norris.

The Crows gradually began to take control of the game and they doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Young turned brilliantly on the edge of the area before racing into the box and firing home from an acute angle with his less-favoured left foot.

There was still time for the visitors to add a third before the interval when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Endacott. Kaan Fehmi stepped up to send Sam Lacey the wrong way from 12 yards.

With both sides seemingly prepared to go through the motions in the second half very few chances were created at either end. And it took until the 66th minute for the fourth goal to arrive. Lockett’s corner was met by the onrushing Robins whose volley with the outside of his left boot flew over Lacey into the net.

Matt Standen was introduced for Kaan Fehmi and it didn’t take him long to get in on the action. Tom Malins, who was now playing in the middle after Collins had left the field, was sent clean through on goal but his shot was parried by Lacey into the path of Standen who was on hand to finish into the empty net from 18 yards.

But he wasn’t finished there as he got his second just before the end with a cool lob after a terrible mistake from Richard Cooke to round off a successful night for Royston.

Royston Town: Norris; Endacott, Bradshaw, Grinham (Plowright 80), A Fehmi; Young, Edwards, Collins (c) (Malins 45), Robins, Lockett, K Fehmi (Matt Standen 67).

Attendance: 86