New Bradwell St Peter 2 Royston Town 5 CRAIG Hammond was the star of the show with four goals as Royston Town put on a strong display to see off their promotion rivals on Saturday. Hammond has now scored 14 goals in seven consecutive league games, but onc

New Bradwell St Peter 2 Royston Town 5

CRAIG Hammond was the star of the show with four goals as Royston Town put on a strong display to see off their promotion rivals on Saturday.

Hammond has now scored 14 goals in seven consecutive league games, but once again it was a spirit team performance which would have pleased manager Paul Attfield with everyone playing their part as the Crows stay on course for promotion.

The conditions were relatively difficult with a strong, gusty wind blowing directly up a sloping pitch but the visitors kept the ball down wherever possible and constantly looked threatening.

Within the first two minutes Hammond had shot just wide after a fine team move but neither Ryan Lockett nor Luke Robins were able to catch the ball and tap it in.

The hosts were very enthusiastic and got the ball forward quickly whenever possible using the wind advantage and they broke with speed but rarely threatened Jorden Gibson's goal despite gaining a number of corners in the half.

Royston went ahead in the 16th minute when Robins broke clear down the left and crossed for Hammond to volley home from 10 yards, and they could have had more soon after but both Hammond and Endacott had chances just wide and Tom Malins saw a 10-yard effort cleared at the last by a lunging defender.

The hosts started the second half well and made Gibson save after a mistake by Jamie Babbage had let a striker in on goal, but Royston dominated large periods of the half and were good for their win.

They could have scored during a goalmouth scramble but Hammond hit the post and Malins had two strikes both blocked on the line, but they eventually got a second on 59 minutes when Hammond reacted to some defensive hesitancy to rocket an 18-yard volley past the diving keeper.

Ricky Young came on to frighten whatever life was left in the Bradwell defence with his blistering pace, and on 67 minutes he got a goal by scoring in an empty net after the referee had played advantage when Hammond was pulled down by the keeper.

A lapse of concentration allowed Bradwell a consolation moments later when Royston conceded a clumsy penalty and straight from kick off more sloppiness allowed a forward in on goal but his effort missed the target when it was easier to score.

Royston made the hosts pay when Hammond headed home twice in two minutes - both from Young crosses - but Bradwell had the last word with a well-struck 18-yard shot which looped off Endacott's knee and into the net.

Paul Attfield said: "We always have tough games against Bradwell and this was no different.

"The game was pretty tight until we got our second goal and then we took control of the game and played some excellent attacking football.

"Our consistency in our effort levels has been good since our defeat at Tokyngton and we have now gained three really big results in the last week since then."

Royston: Gibson, Endacott, Apostolos (Stephens), Babbage, Cain, Welch, Edwards, Malins, Hammond (De Lacy), Lockett, Robins (Young).