PHIL Snowden is still looking for his first victory as Royston Town manager following his side s 1-0 home defeat against Langford. The Crows have played six competitive and three friendly games since Snowden took over from the sacked Mark Saggers and Bria

PHIL Snowden is still looking for his first victory as Royston Town manager following his side's 1-0 home defeat against Langford.

The Crows have played six competitive and three friendly games since Snowden took over from the sacked Mark Saggers and Brian Cannon, but have yet to manage anything better than draw.

The new Royston manager has brought seven players to the club in the space of 10 days, with Cedric Eforma and Emmanual Adubofuor making their debuts, but they do not appear to be any better than the players they have replaced.

Against an ordinary-looking Langford side, Snowden's team never looked like ending that dismal run after gifting the visitors what proved to be the winner after just five minutes.

The hosts appeared to stand and watch as Robert Groves took a short corner to Gareth Grant, and Grant was allowed the space and time to hit a low shot which crept in at the near post, leaving goalkeeper Desmond Asuo floundering.

Kojo Ofori, making his return after a three-game suspension, fired a 26-yard effort wide, but generally Langford controlled the game, with Gareth Grant seeing an effort flash wide after some abject defending from Eforma.

Carl Edwards saw an effort blocked by visiting keeper Dan Eely, and the Crows should have had a penalty when Dave Drury clearly handled in the box.

That let-off seemed to spur the visitors on, with Lee Pateman hitting one post with a cross shot and seeing the rebound flash across the goalmouth, narrowly missing the other post, while the defence stood and watched.

Chris Geldary replaced Eforma and Dave McMurrough came on for Kingsley Amankwah at half-time, and the Crows did manage a better performance after the break - although they never seriously looked about to take anything from the game.

Ryan Cannon saw a hook shot fly just wide early in the half, while at the other end Ricardo Small saw his shot deflected for a corner, with Joe Delasalle's shot forcing Asuo into a good - if unorthodox - save.

A good defensive clearance from Allan Reid prevented Marc Barnes extending Langford's lead after Robert Groves had beaten the offside trap.

Ely Kitenge saw a shot deflected for a corner, and although the Crows continued to look livelier up front than during the first half, they failed to create any real goalscoring opportunities as they slipped to their fourth defeat in six competitive games.

Without an improvement they appear set for another long fight against relegation.

Royston: D Asuo, L Revell, R Cannon, S Snowden, A Reid, C Eforma (C Geldart), J Nash, C Edwards, E Kitenge, K Amankwah (D McMurrough), K Ofori (E Adubofuor). Unused subs: J Moule, M Nichols

- Royston saw Tuesday's home league game postponed due to their opponents, Broxbourne Borough, being involved in an FA Cup replay against Stotfold.

On Saturday the Crows hosts fifth placed Leverstock Green before Division Two high-fliers AFC Dunstable are the visitors on Tuesday in the Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy.