Hair-dryer treatment lifts resurgent Crows
Royston Town manager Steve Castle - Credit: Archant
Steve Castle’s post-match dressing-down of his under-performing Royston Town side following their 3-1 Southern League Division One Central defeat at Potters Bar Town nine days ago seems to have done the trick.
Back-to-back wins against newly-promoted Kings Langley and St Ives Town have lifted the Crows out of their early-season stupor.
The goals were shared around on Tuesday night in Cambridgeshire as Rob Mason and Rhys Hoenes put a resurgent Royston 2-0 ahead at the interval.
Luke Robins’ lob made it three late on to confirm another three points and build on the foundations of their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kings Langley at Garden Walk on Saturday.
The Crows had keeper Ron Yates to thank in the early stages as he was called upon to make an excellent block with Mitchell Weiss bearing down on goal.
The home side fought back and a well-struck Chris Watters free-kick cannoned off the post.
Having weathered the visitors’ early storm, Royston broke the deadlock on 21 minutes.
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Liam McDevitt leapt to connect with Watters’ free-kick, only for his marker Callum Adebayi to cleanly nod past his helpless keeper Anthony Ladyman.
Kings Langley were imperious in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division last season and they refused to lie down without a fight.
They thought they had levelled proceedings on the stroke of half-time but their effort was ruled out for offside.
Weary of relinquishing a first-half home lead in similar circumstances as against Northwood 12 days ago, in a game they eventually lost, they battled valiantly to retain their advantage.
On the hour, they were rewarded for their endeavour as Mason guided the ball into an empty net. Royston were heading for a first three points of the campaign.
Five minutes from the end, Langley substitute Ollie Cox produced a 25-yard stunner that no goalkeeper would have stopped to give his side the mild aroma of a point.
Any hopes of breaching the Crows’ defence were dismissed though as Royston learnt from their previously shaky defensive work earlier in the season to see out the much-needed victory.
