Royston Town 4 Harpenden Town 0 THE Crows started the new year with their sixth straight victory with a 4-0 win over Harpenden Town. However, despite what the scoreline suggests, it was a far cry from Royston s recent impressive form, as Paul Attfield

Royston Town 4

Harpenden Town 0

THE Crows started the new year with their sixth straight victory with a 4-0 win over Harpenden Town.

However, despite what the scoreline suggests, it was a far cry from Royston's recent impressive form, as Paul Attfield's side seemingly struggled after their two-week Christmas break.

In an error-laden first half, The Crows took the lead after nine minutes when Matt Turl's cross was turned into his own net by a ­Harpenden defender.

Six minutes later the hosts' lead was doubled when Tom Malins whipped in a free-kick and found the head of captain Allan Reid who glanced the ball home from 10 yards.

The rest of the half was largely uneventful as Royston tried too hard to unlock the visitors' defence with difficult balls and ignored their usual free flowing football.

In fact, it was Harpenden who saw more of the ball as they tried to work their way back into the game, but the visitors struggled to find a way through Royston's back four with only a 13th minute header testing keeper Damion Williamson.

At the other end, Royston's one other clear chance fell into the path of Craig Hammond, following another cross from Matt Turl, but the in-form striker saw his header fall inches wide.

After the break The Crows returned to their usual tempo and as a result chances gradually came their way, after Harpenden had given them a brief scare with Williamson making two excellent blocks.

Hammond brought a fine save from Williamson's opposite number with one rasping effort, before Luke Robins dinked the ball wide of the post after he was put through down the left.

Attfield then replaced Hammond and Carl Edwards with Graham Tibbals and Will Turl on the hour mark, and was immediately rewarded when the two strikers netted two in four minutes.

Will Turl scored with his first touch with a delicate lob over the advancing Harpenden keeper, while Tibbals blasted home Will Turl's flick on.

Robins almost made it five when his 25-yard free-kick rattled the post, and Matt Turl had a good shout for a penalty when he was brought down in the box.

Attfield said: "For long periods we were very flat, which to be honest, I was expecting after the Christmas layoff.

"We showed a bit more passion and vibrancy in the second half and the game opened up a bit more for us. It was a pleasing result - albeit a little flattering!"

Attfield will be hoping his side respond better on Saturday when they entertain Bedford ­- a team one place above Royston in the South Midlands Division One table.

He said: "It's a big game for us and if we win we will overtake them and move into seventh.

"We're certainly going to have to play a lot better than we did last weekend and we're going to have to be prepared.

"It's obviously great to win six games in a row but we must not get too confident.

"We are a young side and it's easy to slip up - however, it's Tony Galvin's and my job to make sure that complacency doesn't set in."

Royston Town: Williamson; Endacott, M Babbage, Hollingsworth, J Babbage; Reid, Edwards, M Turl, Robins; Hammond, Malins. (Subs): W Turl, Cain, Tibbals, Chappell, Booth.