The Crows bounced back from Saturday’s defeat to inflict a 10th defeat in 11 games for strugglers Leighton Town, writes Jez Izod.
The away side could only muster nine players and were in for an obvious difficult night with Royston attacking from the start.
Clever movement from Kaan Fehmi released Tom Malins down the right, but his cross evaded all white shirts in the area.
Shortly after this, a deep ball from Lee Wilson was met by Malins, his shot was deflected into the path of Kaan Fehmi, but the tricky striker put his effort wide.
On 11 minutes, Will Norris had a moment to forget, when deep in no mans land, the goalkeeper took down Jordan Davis.
With the crowd expecting Royston to be reduced to 10 men, a yellow card was raised, much to the relief of the supporters and young Norris himself.
The best move of the match so far came three minutes later when some brilliant movement from Fehmi allowed the striker to deliver a peach of a cross and Ross Colins coolly slotted the ball past Kirkwood to give the Crows the lead.
With the home side’s tails up and wagging, Royston pressed forward at every opportunity, but were frustrated by some dogged defending and some excellent goal keeping.
The 18-year-old keeper Bradley Kirkwood produced a performance Peter Shilton would have been proud of.
On 27 minutes Fehmi picked up a needless booking for a foul on Tremayne Charles which causes him to be banned for two future games.
With the clock hitting 35 minutes, a mistake in midfield caused Bradshaw to commit a foul on Davis.
The resultant free-kick sailed harmlessly into Norris’s hands.
Five minutes before half-time a short break in proceedings gave Crows manager Paul Attfield an opportunity to press his point home.
This seemed to do the trick as a minute later, excellent work by Ingrey found Robins lurking in the area and his shot nestled into the bottom right hand corner.
Royston were not finished and a superb run and pass by Tommy Malins to Robins and the Royston 11 made no mistake to give the Crows a 3-0 lead at the interval.
With the Crows determined to increase the score line, another excellent cross by Ingrey allowed Robins to complete an excellent hat-trick with a perfectly headed goal.
The floodgates were truly open and on 53 minutes, a sublime Fehmi pass released Robins, who scampered down the left.
His pin point cross found Ryan Ingrey who made no mistake to give the Crows a 5-0 lead.
Shortly afterwards, Fehmi departed the field of play to be replaced by Mat Standen and the Royston substitute immediately tested the away side with a lob from inside the area, this passed aimlessly over the bar.
On 67 minutes saw a terrible challenge by Charles on Robins with the winger briefly winded by the offence.
Kirkwood saved superbly from the resultant free-kick.
Royston were not to be denied and after some terrible defending by Leighton Town, a corner was taken and Ingrey deftly headed in number six.
With manager Attfield urging his troops on, Kirkwood was forced into several excellent saves to deny Robins, Spencer and Standen.
The save of the night though came on 80 minutes when a powerful Collins effort was pressed away by the young stopper and substitute Lockett’s shot was very bravely saved.
The icing on the cake came in the last two minutes when an excellent effort by De La Salle was again saved, but from the resultant corner Standen volleyed home.
With brave Leighton totally demoralised, the scoring was completed on 90 minutes with a Malins cross being met by Standen, to hook in his second goal of the evening.
The final whistle was met by applause from the home fans, who showed their respects to this young, brave and committed Leighton Town side, by clapping them into the changing rooms.
If it had not been for the bravery and polished performance by Kirkwood, the score line could quite easily have read 15 or 16 nil.
So a great result on Tuesday night that bodes well for Saturday’s visit to in-form North Greenford United.
Royston Town: Norris, Endacott (Parr), Wilson, De La Salle, Bradshaw, Spencer, Collins ©, Malins, Fehmi (Standen). Ingrey, Robins (Lockett). Subs not used: McDevitt, Edwards.
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