Haringey Borough 5 Royston Town 1 ROYSTON slipped to defeat at Haringey, a result which left Crow s manager Phil Snowden baffled . Town were 2-0 down at half-time, but got back into the match just after the break with a goal from Albert Abu Donyah. But

Haringey Borough 5

Royston Town 1

ROYSTON slipped to defeat at Haringey, a result which left Crow's manager Phil Snowden "baffled".

Town were 2-0 down at half-time, but got back into the match just after the break with a goal from Albert Abu Donyah.

But they tired in the closing stages, and the hosts scored three more goals to give the scoreline a one-sided look.

Snowden said: "How can you go from playing so well on Tuesday to playing that badly in the space of four days?

"It was an abysmal performance, and there are no positives to take from the game."

Royston's preparations for the match were disrupted by injury, with Rob Gwynne and Graham Tibbals ruled out and Kevin Riley only fit enough to take a place on the bench.

They fell behind midway through the first half when a long ball over the top released Ronardson Obinna. With a couple of defenders appealing in vain for offside, Obinna kept his cool to beat Mark Cookson.

When Obinna added a second just before half time, it looked like the game was up for Royston. But they got back into the match immediately thanks Abu Donyah's close range finish.

But once Ronardson had completed his hat-trick, Haringey took control, with substitute Chima Obiji profiting from some slack marking to poach a late double strike.

"The third goal killed us," said ­chairman Graham Phillips.

"Our defenders thought the ball was going out, but their player managed to keep it in and get it back into the box and that was that. I think a few heads had dropped by the time the fifth goal went in."

# Royston have the chance to put their indifferent league form behind them this weekend, when they host FC ­Clacton in the FA Vase first qualifying round.

With Town having already exited the F.A. Cup, Phillips feels it is important they have a run in the Vase.

"It's always nice to have a cup run. There's a bit of prize money involved too, and although it isn't as much as the FA Cup, it would be a good bonus," he said.

Clacton are seventh in the Ridgeons First Division, and are unbeaten in their first three league games.

Snowden, who hopes to welcome back Tibbals, Gwynne, and Lee Rogers for the match, said: "I played against Clacton when I was at Enfield, and they're a strong side.

"We'll need to be 100 per cent better than we were last Saturday if we're going to get a result."

The match at Garden Walk kicks off at 3pm.