EDGWARE TOWN 3 (S Blackburne, R Morton 2) ROYSTON TOWN 1 (J McMurrough) IT S win or bust for the Crows as they go into Saturday s home league game against Holmer Green. Anything less than three points for Phil Snowden s team will consign them to a bottom

EDGWARE TOWN 3

(S Blackburne, R Morton 2)

ROYSTON TOWN 1

(J McMurrough)

IT'S win or bust for the Crows as they go into Saturday's home league game against Holmer Green.

Anything less than three points for Phil Snowden's team will consign them to a bottom two finish in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, and probable relegation.

Holmer Green lost 2-0 at Kingsbury London Tigers on Tuesday evening to give the Crows a reprieve, but they are now left in the position of realistically needing to win all their games AND hoping that other results go their way.

A fighting performance at league champions-elect Edgware could not prevent the Crows slipping to their 22nd league defeat of the season, and the relegation trap-door seems well and truly open.

Having already lost 8-4 at home against the Middlesex side, this was never going to be easy for the Crows, but they competed well before the hosts opened the scoring on the half-hour mark.

A cross from Adam Wallace found Stuart Blackburne unmarked to fire home, and within five minutes it was 2-0, when Blackburne found Richard Morton in the area, and he turned before firing past Ken Kamata in the visitors' goal.

Wallace headed wide and Ben Hayden had a shot turned behind by a defender before the end of the first half but the Wares could not extend their lead.

Ten minutes into the second half Royston reduced the arrears when skipper Lee Rogers broke through the midfield and set up Jez McMurrough from close range, giving Rob Blackburne in the home goal no chance.

The goal seemed to give the visitors a boost, and Blackburne in the home goal, had to tip over a good effort from Bradley Jackson.

Royston continued to push forward, but the home side wrapped things up in the final minute when Stuart Blackburne tricked his way into the area only to be brought down by Andy Stoddard.

Referee Mr McKay pointed to the spot and Morton made it three for his team with what almost the final kick of the game.

Crows chairman Graham Phillips was proud of their fighting performance. "We played with guts, and I was very proud of them," he said.

"We worked very hard in the second half, and the players who came in did excellently. With a minute to go we were still in with a shout of an equaliser.

"The spirit and commitment was amazing."

Crows: K Kemata, B Poole, A Stoddard, M Bloss (K Blair), P Chappell, D Miles, C Geldart, L Rogers, J McMurrough (G Jackson), B Jackson, M Saunders (S Bowle).

- There were mixed results for the Crows in cup action last week.

On Tuesday evening they were hammered 5-0 at home by Spalding United in the East Anglian Cup, but on Thursday a pair of Graham Tibbles goals sent them into the last eight of the South Midlands Floodlight Cup with a 2-1 win against Potton United. They will now travel to either Eynesbury Rovers or Oxhey Jets.