Royston Town Vets 2 Standon & Puckeridge Vets 1 KEEPER Colin McArthur repeated his heroics of the previous Sunday, with yet another second half penalty save to enable the Vets to hang on for a close win at Garden Walk on Sunday. Nick King replaced the g

Royston Town Vets 2

Standon & Puckeridge Vets 1

KEEPER Colin McArthur repeated his heroics of the previous Sunday, with yet another second half penalty save to enable the Vets to hang on for a close win at Garden Walk on Sunday.

Nick King replaced the golfing Brian Cannon in centre of defence, Nick Ryding made his second appearance of the season up front against traditionally strong opponents from along the A10.

Town started confidently, with Paul Lewis and Kevin Barthrop producing good saves from the visiting keeper, although not playing as fluently as in pervious weeks.

Barthrop and Richard Harris were once again at the centre of most of the promptings, with Lewis looking particularly sharp leading the line. It was fine thinking and clever play from Lewis that put Barthrop through for the diminutive midfielder to confidently put Town ahead.

At the other end King and Kevin Sharp, with the ever dependable Ian Stubbs were handling the visiting forwards well, although were unable to do anything about one effort that slammed into the upright, fortunately then cleared by Mike Jackson.

The second half saw a brilliantly executed individual goal from in-form Lewis, twisting and turning the Standon defence, before drilling home to put the Vets two up, for what then should have been a comfortable win.

As Standon worked tirelessly to pull one back, Town did themselves no favours, failing to hold on to the ball and seemingly giving it away far too often.

With a now strong wind at their backs, Standon crashed a header against the Town bar, following a number of corners, before finally pulling one back from a cross from the left, somehow tucked home past McArthur who had replaced Merv Chaffey at half time.

A penalty awarded for handball, looked to be the chance for Standon to make it all square. Once again, McArthur dived low to his left to push the ball wide, for Sharp to then clear the danger.

The final whistle could not come soon enough for the Vets. A ragged second half performance. Lots of effort and energy. Short on craft, guile and finesse.

Yet another win and another penalty save from McArthur

Royston Town Vets: M. Chaffey, M Jackson, I Stubbs, K Flack, N King, K Barhrop, D Quinn, P Lewis, N Ryding, R Harris, N Humphries, C McArthur, I Allen

- Next Vets fixture is under the Garden Walk lights on Monday against a Simon Dobson XI, kick off 7.30pm.