ROYSTON TOWN 4 (J McMurrough 2, D McMurrough, R Gwynne) EDGWARE TOWN 8 (B Cain 3, R Morton 3, A Wallace, M Buchanan) ROYSTON Town s defensive frailties were there for all to see at Garden Walk on Tuesday night as they lost out in a 12-goal thriller. The

ROYSTON TOWN 4

(J McMurrough 2, D McMurrough, R Gwynne)

EDGWARE TOWN 8

(B Cain 3, R Morton 3, A Wallace, M Buchanan)

ROYSTON Town's defensive frailties were there for all to see at Garden Walk on Tuesday night as they lost out in a 12-goal thriller.

The Crows conceded six goals in a 23- minute spell in the first half against league leaders Edgware, and although they showed they are quite capable of hitting the net themselves, their defensive problems will be starting to haunt boss Phil Snowden.

Snowden's team had already conceded 69 goals in 25 league games - eight more than anyone else in the South Midlands League Premier Division - and they are now averaging nearly three goals conceded per game.

It was also the seventh time Royston had conceded six or more goals this season.

Both sides had early chances, but it was the Crows who took the lead in the 18th minute when teenager Rob Gwynne cut in the from the right and fired past Darren Bonfield in the visitors' goal.

That lead lasted just two minutes, and what followed proved to be a defensive nightmare for the home side.

Ben Cain levelled the scores before a back heel by Adam Wallace saw Lewis turn the defence to give Richard Morton the shot to make it 2-1.

Worse was to follow, and in the 24th minute a run down the right by Wallace and a cross in to Cain saw him score his second, and then a great individual goal by Wallace made it 4-1 just past the half-hour mark

Five minutes later Morton made it five with a well-struck 25-yard free-kick, beating the wall and giving Chris Chambers no chance of saving his blistering shot.

Cain completed his hat-trick when Chambers came out of his goal to collect the ball, which slipped from his grasp, and the tall striker casually walked the loose ball into goal with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Finally, it was Royston's turn to score again when they won a corner in the dying seconds of the half and the ball was centred for Jez McMurrough to cut the half-time arrears to 6-2.

It took only six second-half minutes for the goal-fest to continue, Morton converting from the spot after he had been pulled down by Chambers.

A good cross from Jez McMurrough saw the deficit again cut back to four when he crossed for his brother Dave to head home, and it was Jez who powered home Royston's fourth just before the hour-mark.

The scoring finally came to a close in the 63rd minute when Mark Buchanan made it 8-4 to round off an incredible night at Garden Walk.

- The Crows return to Garden Walk on Saturday when seventh-placed Chalfont St Peter are the visitors