Royston Town took their winning Southern League Division One Central run to 13 games via a 10-goal thriller at Beaconsfield SYCOB on Saturday.

Beaconsfield themselves were on a super run going into the game having won their previous eight league games but Royston were never behind in this eventual 6-4 victory and goals from Josh Castiglione (two), John Frendo, Ryan Frater, Rod Orlando-Young and Adam Watkins sealed the Crows’latest victory.

The game started as open as it finished and on three minutes there was nearly a SYCOB own goal. However, home keeper Sam Bunting did well to tip the ball over from his team-mate’s deflection and it was breathless hustle and bustle until a moment of real class drew first blood.

Frendo received a throw-in on the corner of the box, took it on his chest and with a spin, unleashed a perfect left-foot volley diagonally across the home keeper and high into the top left corner – a real thing of beauty.

Beaconsfield hit back and had a good long distance chance on 18 minutes when untidy marking brought a 30-yard pot-shot on goal that Joe Welch dived low to his left to palm round the post.

Royston took a two-goal lead on 20 minutes with a well-taken goal from Frater, who was up for a corner, but rather than the expected headed effort, he scored with a firm effort into the top corner.

Again the hosts counter-punched back, this time being awarded a penalty kick on 25 minutes when Danny May was adjudged to have fouled and Callum Bunting stepped up to score from the spot.

Four minutes later and the two-goal margin was restored.

Orlando-Young was getting some room on the left wing and a muddled approach brought a long half-deflected lob effort that was going in but defender Harry Tucker did well lofting the ball off of the line. However, his high clearance fell perfectly to a waiting Castiglione who had an easy central header in for 3-1.

The game continued to swing with more half chances for both sides and Welch again rescued his stretched defenders, making another important save on 40 minutes.

Welch was helpless on the cusp of half-time as a central free-kick was pushed forward and an unchallenged header was lobbed over the stranded keeper.

The second half was a carbon copy of sloppy defending and sharp finishing resulting in an identical score-line.

Orlando-Young got the Crows’ fourth on 49 minutes, cutting in before shooting low under Bunting, who probably should have done better with this one.

A match-defining event happened on 53 minutes when Welch performed miracles in the visitors’ goal, seemingly stranded and chasing back, but somehow spreading himself to make an excellent point-blank stop to keep the goal-bound shot out.

Manager Steve Castle made a change, swapping Spyros Mentis for Stuart Bridges on 54 minutes.

Two minutes later and Royston scored their fifth.

Some pressing play culminated in the ball falling for Castiglione central on the edge of the box and he took just enough time to pick his spot and put a sweet shot through the crowd and in.

Most times a three-goal lead at this stage of the match should be enough but not against this SYCOB team and they struck back with two determined goals, exploiting poor and reckless defending from the Crows’ backline scoring.

Castle made his last changes between these two SYCOB goals – swapping Frendo for Kaan Fehmi and Orlando-Young for Ryan Ingrey on 62 minutes.

The Crows eventually wrapped up the three points.

Man of the match Castiglione arrived at the by-line with trickery and cut back a clever pass to find Watkins and he struck home a controlled side-foot finish.