Royston Town 1 Cheshunt Res 2 FOR the last 15 minutes of Tuesday night s defeat, the Crows more than matched a strong Cheshunt Reserves side, writes TOM BROWN. But the damage was already done before Bradley Poole s well-worked goal in the 78th minute, wi

Royston Town 1 Cheshunt Res 2

FOR the last 15 minutes of Tuesday night's defeat, the Crows more than matched a strong Cheshunt Reserves side, writes TOM BROWN.

But the damage was already done before Bradley Poole's well-worked goal in the 78th minute, with the visitors two- goal advantage proving one too many.

Glenn Geddes offered Cheshunt a valuable outlet down the right, with his trickery and pace tormenting the Royston back line.

However, he had little end product, with Garden Walk debutant keeper Fernando Seidi limited to a series of goal kicks.

At the other end Graham Tibbals had one good chance to open the scoring, when Lee Rogers freed Dave McMurrough down the right with the ball then finding Tibbals in the box, and then the arms of Cheshunt number one Brian Sealey.

However, the deadlock was soon broken when Geddes' lively run was blocked by Stuart Snowden with the ball rolling into the path of Shane Williams, who hammered home an angled drive from the edge of the box just before half time.

In the second half, Royston threatened with a few half-chances with Carl Edwards being denied by a last ditch tackle and Allan Reid's powerful header being blocked by Sealey.

And when Rogers' free kick just outside the box struck the Cheshunt wall, it was clear that it was going to be another one of those nights.

However, while Royston's half chances went begging, there was always the feeling that Cheshunt's pacy attack would catch the hosts out.

And they did just that, with Brett Graham breaking from Edwards' cleared free kick.

And when Rafa Mawyufuma overlapped down the right it was inevitable what would happen next. Substitute Jimmy Martin pounced, guided the ball over a stranded Seidi and Cheshunt were 2-0 up.

The goal seemed to kick some life into Royston and in a change of pace it was the previously relaxed Cheshunt defence that was on the back foot.

And their efforts were rewarded when Seb Ndombe's brilliant pass was turned in by the hugely impressive Poole with 12 minutes to go.

The goal set up a frantic final 10 minutes, with Tibbals and McMurrough chasing every ball, Ndombe battering through anything that moved and Rogers, Poole and Julu supporting at every opportunity.

However, the surge in play was too little too late, as Cheshunt's resilience in defence showed why they have one of the best defensive records in the league.

After the game manager Phil Snowden said: "There wasn't much between the teams and I think the Cheshunt keeper was the probably the busier of the two.

"I thought we competed well. It was a vast improvement on recent weeks."

On Saturday Royston travel to Brache Sparta in the league, 3pm.