Royston Town 0 New Bradwell St Peter 0 By Tom Brown ROYSTON Town missed out on the chance to move into the top five of the South Midlands League Division One on Saturday - despite doing more than enough to claim the three points. In what was their tou

Royston Town 0 New Bradwell St Peter 0

By Tom Brown

ROYSTON Town missed out on the chance to move into the top five of the South Midlands League Division One on Saturday - despite doing more than enough to claim the three points.

In what was their toughest test in recent weeks, Royston knew New Bradwell St Peter would be hard to break down, with their opponents seemingly intent on stopping The Crows' free flowing football.

One clever link up between Carl Edwards and Luke Robins sent Craig Hammond through for a one on one after three minutes, but the striker's lofted effort was pushed away by New Bradwell keeper Shaun Abson.

However, the visitors spoiling tactics seemed to be working with a number of cynical tackles and obstructions thwarting Royston's efforts to move forward.

Brendan Quill was lucky to only receive a yellow for his crude tackle on Robins on the half way line, while Greg Tite was also lucky to stay on the field for his late tackles on Lewis Endacott and Tom Malins.

New signing Ashley Townsend looked to work an opening for himself in and around the box, with the striker almost finding a way through a tight New Bradwell back line.

A few half chances fell to Hammond, Edwards and Robins before the half ended with Royston having the majority of play and opportunities.

After the interval, Edwards forced a good save from the visiting keeper with one stinging effort from the edge of the box, before Hammond's clever flick almost found the head of Townsend.

However, New Bradwell continued to slow the game down with their tackling frustrating not only frustrating the Royston players but The Crows' dugout too.

To their credit, the hosts kept their discipline and continued to push for a winner, with New Bradwell offering little going forward.

Robins went inches wide with a 20-yard free-kick when Edwards was upended from behind, before Hammond somehow fired wide from close range following one howler from Shaun Abson.

And it just was not the talented striker's day when he headed over from Endacott's cross from the right with two minutes remaining. And Royston thought they had the winner when Robins hit another curling free-kick which eluded the New Bradwell wall only to cannon off the post in the dying seconds.