Birchanger Vets 2 Royston Town Vets 1 DEPLETED Royston came away from Birchanger empty-handed on Sunday after a scrappy affair condemned them to a rare defeat. Town had to re-shuffle, having lost top scorer Peter Leete and the influential Steve Holden, a

Birchanger Vets 2

Royston Town Vets 1

DEPLETED Royston came away from Birchanger empty-handed on Sunday after a scrappy affair condemned them to a rare defeat.

Town had to re-shuffle, having lost top scorer Peter Leete and the influential Steve Holden, as well as Carlo Silenti and Mike Jackson.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, although it was The Crows who created the best of the chances with Colin McArthur going close early on.

And the visitors were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Paul Lewis was tripped in the ­Birchanger box, but the referee waved play on.

The hosts then took the lead midway through the first half, when some slack marking in the six-yard box allowed Birchanger in following a well-taken corner from the right.

Town were level however, 10 minutes into the second half, with Lewis slotting home a calm penalty after McArthur was pushed in the back.

However, 15 minutes later, Birchanger restored their lead following a clever breakaway and a confident finish.

The hosts could have had a third shortly after, but Merv Chaffey was on hand with an excellent right-handed save to turn the ball round the post.

Royston battled back late on, but an equaliser proved elusive, although they did have two penalty claims turned down.

# Royston Town Vets travel to Hertford-based opponents Goldin Old Boys on Sunday.

Royston Town Vets: Chaffey; Cannon, Stubbs, Bowers, Flack; Allen, Quinn, Clark, Cooper; Lewis, McArthur. (Sub): Crawley.