ROYSTON Town manager Paul Attfield is praying his side do not pick up any more suspensions or injuries ahead of a crucial run-in in the Evo-Stik Southern Central Division.
On Tuesday night The Crows defeated Eynesbury Rovers 5-1 in the Hinchingbrooke Cup quarter-final, and thankfully for Attfield, his squad came through it worry free.
With Craig Hammond and Ryan Lockett set to miss the rest of the season with ankle ligament and broken rib injuries respectively, Attfield is keeping everything crossed for no further decimation of numbers.
“The players played well [against Eynesbury], played some nice football on a good playing surface and were well worthy of the win,” said the Royston boss.
“But the most important thing for me is that we came through the game with no further injuries or suspensions.
“No disrespect to the cup, but at this stage of the season we could have done without it, but because of the weather there’s nothing that could be done about it.”
The big game, in truth, was on Saturday, where The Crows defeated fellow play-off rivals Slough Town 2-0 at home courtesy of goals from Lockett and Luke Robins.
Despite that victory, because Biggleswade Town and Beaconsfield were victorious on Tuesday night in their respective league fixtures, Royston Town have now slipped to one place outside the play-off positions.
However, Attfield is not overly-concerned with this development.
“I firmly believe it is in our own hands; I think there will be enough points to be dropped by the teams around us as they have got to play each other,” he added.
“I don’t think we have to worry what other teams are doing. We have secured a good couple of results in the league recently, and we have to continue like that.
“The Slough and Biggleswade games [Royston defeated Biggleswade 3-1 on April 1] followed the same pattern really; we defended superbly, and went on to create good chances which we managed to convert some of.
“I think we outbattled both sides, and showed a real determination to get the job done.
“If we can show similar levels to that for the rest of the season, then we will be ok.”
Royston travel to take on Guildford City this Saturday, before a trip to bottom-of-the-table and winless Woodford United on Tuesday night.
Another player who will miss these two games is Jack Bradshaw, who sits out a suspension.
Attfield added: “I am sweating a bit with the injuries and suspensions, as it can get to the stage where it is difficult to manage.
“But whatever team I have had to pick this season, the players have gone out and done a job for me; it’s certainly not a concern having to rotate the squad.
“We have been nowhere near to full strength, and you’re there to be shot at, but it’s down to us, and it’s in our hands.”
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