Cheshunt 2 Royston 7 HAT-TRICKS from captain Andy Drage and vice-captain Owen Russell saw Royston to victory over Cheshunt on Saturday. Royston began the match poorly, and were barely able to string two passes together, while Cheshunt looked dang

Cheshunt 2 Royston 7

HAT-TRICKS from captain Andy Drage and vice-captain Owen Russell saw Royston to victory over Cheshunt on Saturday.

Royston began the match poorly, and were barely able to string two passes together, while Cheshunt looked dangerous and created a number of chances.

But once Royston settled, they began keeping possession, and it was not long before Drage put them ahead from the penalty spot.

Once the first goal went in Royston began to dominate, and doubled their lead with a Russell strike.

Two more goals came in quick succession, when Callum Weir set up Russell for his second, and Nick Ross struck with an excellent finish.

Dave Barker came back into the defence after a week away, and Ben Jones excelled himself to keep Cheshunt out.

After the break, Royston continued to push forward and extended their lead with Drage's second.

Then Royston started giving away possession cheaply, which lifted the hosts, who went on to score a good first goal and a penalty.

But Royston raised their game and took control of the last 10 minutes, during which they won another penalty that was well taken by Drage.

Royston III 4 Hertford III 1

ROYSTON got back to winning ways to beat Hertford for the second time this season.

But it took a goal and a nasty Hertford injury to wake up Royston.

The delay seemed to send Hertford into a stupor and it took only 30 seconds for Royston to advance through the middle when Paul Bloomfield slipped the ball to Colin Bateman to open the account.

Royston changed tactics and began to forage down the left flank, with Matt Brunt and Josh Jamieson combining nicely.

And it was Jamieson who played the pass of the match, when he turned back and slapped a 35-yard crossfield ball square to Michael Welding, who drove into the Hertford D to find Sam Polge who tapped home.

After the break a 10-minute spell of Hertford pressure troubled the hosts, and Hertford were unlucky not to score again.

But two of Royston's young players, Polge and Welding, had other ideas, and forced the game back in the home side's favour.

And it was Polge's simple cross that picked out Bloomfield who finished with ease.

Hertford tried to fight back and continued to push forward, but Michael Parsons, filling in at right-back, broke down an attack and fed the ball to Smith.

Smith found Welding, who moved the ball up to Polge.

This time he did not go round the defender, as Smith called for the return square pass, to take it into the Hertford half.

There he drew two players, and returned the ball again to Polge on the edge of the 'D' and he passed to Bloomfield for the simplest of finishes.

This week Royston travel to third-placed Broxbourne, and a win would put them among the promotion places.