Royston Town 3

Takeley 1

Pre-season friendly

THE Crows eased to another pleasing victory on Saturday when goals from Kaan Fehmi, Ross Collins and Matt Standen brushed aside the Essex Senior League side at Garden Walk.

This was Royston’s fifth pre-season friendly and while the performances have been good with the players gradually reaching good fitness levels, a number of injuries have meant manager Paul Attfield has had to experiment much in the last two outings with a mixture of first, reserve and youth team players.

Royston scored in the first minute, with Josh Bronti shutting down a defensive ball forward and feeding Matt Standen who crossed for Kaan Fehmi to volley home from six yards.

Takeley responded well with a good period of possession and a number of corners with a couple of headers from early deliveries going just off target. From open play, though, the visitors created little in the first half and although Royston often were guilty of giving the ball away they still created the best chance of the half.

Kaan Fehmi controlled a Lee Wilson cross and his drive towards the keeper’s near post was turned aside. Matt Standen had another chance to double the lead when his free header from eight yards was directed straight at the keeper from a Dan Apostolos cross.

Roger Skeggs was denied by the keeper in a one-on-one situation as was Martin Standen whose near-post header from a corner was blocked on the line just before the interval.

The second half continued in the same vein but a first team debut for 16-year-old left winger Dejon Mullings was another encouraging sign for Attfield. He was unlucky not to score when his surging run and one two on the edge of the box ended with an 18-yard volley that was well saved by the keeper.

The vistors equalised on 57 minutes when Greig Taylor broke the offside trap to slot past Will Norris.

Royston’s best period of the game was the final quarter when they gained significant control and a swift return of their attractive passing game which created numerous chances. A foul on Ryan Ingrey in the area with 20 minutes remaining gave Jack Bradshaw the chance from the spot but although his effort was well saved, the visitors fell asleep and a right-wing cross was turned in by Collins.

Ingrey headed another Apostolos cross inches wide and Matt Brennan sent a close-range header from a corner onto the crossbar before Matt Standen completed the scoring when he riffled home from close-range after Takeley had failed to clear another cross.

Royston Town squad: Norris, Apostolos, Wilson, Bradshaw, Martin Standen, Collins, Ingrey, Skeggs, Matt Standen, Fehmi, Bronti, Butler, Brennan, Debnam, Mullings.