Paul Attfield highlighted losing the phyical battle as key to his Royston Town side’s 1-0 defeat at home to Daventry Town on Saturday.
It was The Crows’ first competitive loss of the season, but boss Attfield believes he knows exactly where the game was lost.
“It is a bit disappointing from our point of view as we knew what they were all about,” he said.
“They were a big side and we just couldn’t cope with them physically.
“We couldn’t impose ourselves on the game at all, and the game went completely out of our hands as we lacked any sort of physical nature.
“Defensively I thought we were very good, probably one of our strongest displays so far, but offensively we offered very little.
“At the end of the day we just weren’t cute enough on the ball, and were undone by a stronger side.”
Royston’s cause wasn’t helped when a seemingly innocuous challenge by Craig Hammond on Daventry keeper Richard Morris left the Royston number nine prostrate and in pain.
The game was stopped for approximately five minutes while Hammond received treatment for a back injury which then saw him substituted with Luke Robins coming on a lot earlier than he could have expected.
It was clear Daventry had come to stamp their size and presence on this game and there followed a series of heavy challenges and crude tackles that the referee chose to let go, much to the displeasure of the decent sized Garden Walk crowd.
The home side’s best chance of taking a lead in this game came in the 42nd minute with Ross Collins’ cross being met by Robbie Mason only to see his effort go just wide.
George Lawton was without doubt having his best game for the Crows and often found himself under bombardment from Daventry’s more agricultural style of play.
What turned out to be the eventual winner came in the 66th minute when Ashley Robinson thumped a solid header past Lawton.
Mason was first warned by the referee for a non-connecting studs up challenge and three minutes later he saw a straight red card for a heavy challenge.
This summed up Royston’s day, as Daventry held out to make it six straight wins to top the Calor League Division One Central.
On Saturday Royston are away to higher Division Chesham United in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
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