Royston 1 Stevenage 3 DEPLETED Royston more than met their match against league leaders Stevenage on Saturday. The match started well for the hosts as Dave Barker fired them in front following a short corner, and they could well have doubled their

Royston 1 Stevenage 3

DEPLETED Royston more than met their match against league leaders Stevenage on Saturday.

The match started well for the hosts as Dave Barker fired them in front following a short corner, and they could well have doubled their lead when two more short corners created good opportunities.

However, Royston then paid the price for sitting back.

And moments into the second half, Stevenage equalised with a goal that had long been expected.

From then the match sank to a morbidly slow pace but it was the visitors who came out on top with a second goal.

A third followed minutes later and despite a late surge by Royston, Stevenage deserved the win.

Royston captain Andy Drage said: "This was definitely our worst performance of the season, and it would be wrong to solely blame the amount of players that were unavailable.

"The side we fielded under-performed hugely, although those players who came in as replacements did not let us down."

Royston IV 2 Blueharts V 2

A STRONG Blueharts side came out fighting from the off, with their skilful passing cutting through the defensive line with ease.

However, thanks to Royston's determined defending and some ­brilliant play from goalkeeper Gary Pinner, the Crows went home with a share of the points.

Royston had to defend wave after wave of attacks, with Blueharts taking the lead following a short corner midway through the first half, and for the remainder of the period it was backs to the walls for Royston.

A halftime pep-talk by vice captain Colin Smith concluded with a change of line-up.

And the new formation immediately paid dividends when Steve Gourd slotted the ball through for Keith Markham to hit home.

However, not to be outdone, the visitors pushed forward again, and 10 minutes later took the lead once more.

But with 30 seconds to go, Tim Yow powered in a dramatic equaliser as the entire Royston team pushed up following a final short corner, with a ­brilliant strike that denied the visitors what looked like a certain win.

Royston V 2 West Herts VI 2

DESPITE having not won a game all season, West Herts gave Royston a match they were not expecting.

And it proved to be a difficult game for the Crows as the West Herts side made up of an experienced defence and a young midfield and forward line looked like they could play all day.

Despite this, Royston were on top from the start, but found it difficult to make it past their opponents' back line.

However, they took the lead when a short corner fell to Matt Brunt, whose calm finish left the West Herts keeper stranded.

The visitors, however, came back strongly in the second half, and scored two well-deserved goals, from open play and a short corner.

But not to be outdone, Royston fought back and snatched an equaliser with only a few minutes to spare from a well-worked short corner, which was struck home by Nigel Philips.