Oxhey Jets 1 Royston Town 1 EIGHT man Crows managed to salvage a point at high-flying Oxhey on an afternoon of high drama. David McMurrough, Ryan Cannon and Stuart Snowden were all shown red cards in an erratic performance by referee Mr Medlock, and the

Oxhey Jets 1 Royston Town 1

EIGHT man Crows managed to salvage a point at high-flying Oxhey on an afternoon of high drama.

David McMurrough, Ryan Cannon and Stuart Snowden were all shown red cards in an erratic performance by referee Mr Medlock, and the trio were joined by manager Phil Snowden, who also saw red.

The glut of red cars brings Royston's total to SIXTEEN this season.

"I wouldn't mind if they were for break-your-leg tackles, but apart from Kojo's against Kingsbury, none of them has been for violent conduct," said stunned chairman Graham Phillips.

"If we were a dirty side, I would understand it, but we're not."

McMurrough went in the 33rd minute when, having been booked after clashing heads with a defender, he picked up a second yellow card, despite the home player he had allegedly fouled protesting that he had simply suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.

Boss Snowden quickly followed McMurrough from the pitch after his comments about the dismissal.

Worse was to follow in the 55th minute, when Paul Turner looked at least a yard offside before firing his side ahead.

Keeper Ken Kemato was booked for dissent before Cannon was given a straight red card for saying to Stuart Snowden: "That's the second time in two games that we've been cheated by a goal like that."

Despite being down to nine men, the Crows equalised through Jez McMurrough in the 66th minute, with a well-taken effort, and the same player was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards.

Some good defending kept the Crows on level terms, but they were reduced to eight men nine minutes before full-time when Allan Reid was penalised for a late tackle.

Skipper Snowden's attempted clearance came a split second after Mr Medlock had blown for the infringement, and struck a player on the ground, earning him his second red card of the season.

A curling 30-yarder by Lee Grace in the final minute somehow hit the inside of a post, shot across the goal line and stayed out, but no one could deny the Crows deserved the point after a battling performance.

"I've got nothing but praise for the way we stuck at it" said Phillips.

"The players could barely move by the end of the game, and everyone at Oxhey was very complimentary about how we battled.

"We had the same referee against Oxhey last season.

"He gave us a last-minute penalty and sent off two of their players.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the reports say.