Marksman Russell leads Royston five-goal fightback

Royston 5 Winchmore & Enfield 1

Royston began their new league season in exciting fashion with a comfortable win against Winchmore & Enfield.

But it was the visitors who started the better, and took just five minutes to open the scoring.

And after riding their luck, with keeper Chris Markham making a string of top saves, Royston began to threaten midway through the half.

Last season's top scorer Owen Russell struck at the back post for the equaliser.

Both teams looked to attack at every opportunity, in what became a very open first half.

However, Royston took the lead just before the interval when ­skipper Andy Drage beat his marker and slotted the ball past the keeper.

After making a couple of tactical changes, Royston started the ­second half like a different team and within minutes they had extended their lead thanks to debutant Mornet Jouberet's strike.

In the following 15 minutes the hosts added two more, with Nick Hurd lifting the ball calmly over the visitors' keeper for four, before Jouberet grabbed his second after a well-worked short corner.

Royston II 1 Letchworth III 2

A STRONG Letchworth side ­dominated this fixture from the off and recorded a deserved three points.

In the first half, Letchworth bombarded Royston with waves of attacks, with the hosts' defence under the cosh.

Despite holding out for much of the period, Royston conceded when a well-taken Letchworth short corner set up the opener.

Royston found more of a rhythm in the second half and fought back with some clever attacking play down the left flank.

And when Michael Welding, Josh Jameson, and Simon Campbell combined to free Chris Watson, the latter forced a great save from the Letchworth keeper.

Luckily for Royston, Richard Bowen was on hand to fire home with a calmly taken shot for a deserved equaliser.

Unfortunately for Royston Letchworth snatched an immediate second after taking advantage of another short corner.

Shefford & Sandy 3 Royston III 3

IT was a game of end-to-end action, as two goal-hungry teams battled it out for a share of the spoils.

Royston started the brighter, and a flurry of shots peppered the hosts' goal before Nicholas Freeman opened their account with a ­confident strike.

But their stream of attacks left their defence vulnerable and Robert Frost in no-mans land.

And inevitably Shefford & Sandy drew level just before half time.

Royston's naivety was exposed once more moments into the ­second half when the hosts grabbed another after a quick break opened the Royston defence.

Ten minutes later, Royston were back in the game after some unselfish play by Freeman found space for Nicholas Broadley, whose deflected shot found the back of the Shefford & Sandy net.

But the home side hit back once more with a controversial third.

However, just as all seemed lost for Royston, the impressive ­Freeman forced a penalty flick that was eventually met with powerful accuracy by Broadley with just a minute on the clock.

Royston IV 3 Bedford V 4

THERE were goals galore - unfortunately for Royston four of them belonged to Bedford.

Royston have by no means been shy in front of goal this season, but they seemed to meet their match in a particularly strong Bedford forward line.

The game started lively, with Royston's passing and movement causing immediate problems.

And when Paul Bloomfield and Steve Gourd combined with the advancing Nigel Phillips Royston took an early lead.

Bedford hit back straight away, before Phillips' mazy run found Colin Bateman for an easy ­Royston second.

In the second half, Bedford came out even stronger and within minutes of the re-start grabbed another equaliser.

However, as a midfield battle ensued, it was Royston who took the lead for a third time, through Bloomfield.

But when Royston conceded a soft goal midway through the half, the visitors went for a win and were rewarded in the final minutes with a well-taken penalty flick.