Royston Town win comfortable Premier Cup tie

Royston Town 4

Hillingdon Borough 0

Premier Division Cup second round

DALTON O’BRIEN scored a hat-trick as the Crows saw off Hillingdon in the second round of the Premier Cup on Tuesday night.

For the first time this season Matt Standen and O’Brien were paired in attack and both were a constant threat to the Hillingdon defence. Recent signing Joe Clemo had a decent run-out on the right wing and some concentrated and grafted defensive play gave the home side a second clean sheet in four days.

Royston had much the better of the first half attacking from the first whistle. In just the third minute Tom Malins met a good Joe Clemo cross but hit the post from eight yards.

The opening goal wasn’t long in waiting, though. On 15 minutes Jack Bradshaw did well to chase what looked to be a lost cause but after keeping the ball in play a second attempt at a cross was handled with O’Brien converting the penalty.

Both teams created half chances for the remainder of the half until Royston scored a quickfire double just before the interval. Hillingdon were undone in unfortunate circumstances when a ball forward from the defence hit the referee before a through ball sent O’Brien clear who beat the ‘keeper.

Just moments later Matt Standen did well to intercept an under hit back pass from the full-back and he rolled the ball into the empty net after rounding the ‘keeper.

O’Brien completed a well deserved hat-trick 10 minutes from time when he raced onto Ricky Young’s pass to clip a shot over the ‘keeper from 12 yards.

Lewis Endacott should have had another penalty when he was hauled down in the area but the award of an inexplicable yellow card for the full-back for a supposed dive was quite shocking.

Royston’s reward is a home quarter final against either AFC Dunstable of Hertford Town next month.

Royston Town: Gibson, Endacott, A Fehmi, McGrandles, Beck, Plowright, Bradshaw (Bitting), Malins (Young), Clemo (Bronti), Matt Standen, O’Brien.