Royston Town got back to winning ways last night (Tuesday) with a 3-1 victory at home to Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Beaconsfield are having a similar stop-start season to the Crows so following Royston’s sub-standard performance against bottom team Ashford Town this was a potentially tricky fixture to try and bounce back to positive results.

There was one starting line-up change seen with new signing Scott Bridges being introduced immediately in centre midfield as the Crows continue to see a steady metamorphosis under Steve Castle’s style of management.

The first half was an evenly matched contest with the pace and tempo high that suited both playing styles and whilst not quite cancelling each other out the two team’s high paced forward movement style was nullified by some excellent – and sometimes manic - defending at both ends.

Craig Hammond was first to put in a good effort high across the goal and the lively Ryan Ingrey set up re-energised Robbie Mason who couldn’t quite get his shot off.

Seven minutes in and Bridges announced his arrival with a somewhat committed challenge that saw him receive a very early yellow card.

It was a good game to watch with the play swinging end to end and the Rams good pressure caused confusion in the home box that saw a hacked clearance following a missed corner take by Crow’s keeper Nick Thompson.

Good early work by both wingmen, Ingrey and Reece Dobson was providing defence challenging width and exciting running that was so obviously lacking on Saturday.

The opening goal came on 21 minutes from a moment of hesitancy from away keeper James Reading with the ball at his feet; Mason pressed well and dispossessed him then coolly passing a square ball for Hammond to tap home.

Beaconsfield kept up their own brand of pressing play and seven minutes later got it back level when a shot by Tom O’Regan was parried by Thompson into the path of J Ajanlekoko who finished calmly. The entertaining and well-contested half finished at 1-1.

No home team changes seen and the Crows started the second half on full attacking power and five minutes in this game was effectively over.

Firstly a tricky run from Dobson drew a clumsy challenge and Jack Bradshaw powered home the resulting penalty.

Then three minutes later fine link up play by Ingrey fed Dobson who in turn found Mason who had a bit of luck with a kind run of the ball but made no mistake with a perfect hard hit stylish finish.

The away team stepped up and had an effort of their own headed off of the line and put a free-kick just wide but the Crow’s defence, notably Ryan Wharton and Jack Bradshaw, kept things tight and their calm and controlled defending kept their visitor’s chances to a minimum and led their team to seal all three important points.

This was a most welcome and certainly needed solid team performance from the Crows as they demonstrated continued willingness and endeavour all over the pitch.

Man of the match Ryan Ingrey covered every blade of grass and it was an impressive debut from Scott Bridges who added a bit of class to the midfield engine room.