Reserves put together back-to-back wins

Royston Town Reserves 3 Hoddesdon Reserves 2

FOR the first time this season Royston Town Reserves managed back to back wins by beating top of the table Hoddesdon.

The home side welcomed back Jamie Morriss and veteran defender Michael Baker which allowed them to start the match with a solid 4-4-2, and straight away they put the Hoddesdon back line under pressure

With Stuart Dalloway constantly pushing forward it was only a matter of time before Royston took the lead, and this was so proved on 20 minutes with Dallaway converting a Morriss pass before recording his and Royston's second b y firing home a Barlow long clearance.

At this point a third for Town would have killed the game but Hoddesdon had other ideas.

Royston defence lost concentration as possession was conceded further up field with Hoddesdon snapping at the home side's heels and a long ball was shot beyond Barlow's reach by the opposition forward to bring his side back into the game.

With just three minutes to go until half time Hoddesdon levelled as Royston failed to clear again and a low driven centre was put into the Royston net from just six yards.

A re-shuffle due to an injury was forced on Town for the second half, but it caused little disruption.

Royston more than contained their visitors and as the game went on both teams had chances.

Barlow kept his side in it with two point blank saves before Baker had to be withdrawn with a slight niggle, forcing Town to adopt a back three and introduce the lively Brendan Lees.

As the match entered into its final five minutes, Royston put the game to bed when Morriss set up Aaron Williams for the winner.

Assistant manager John Bloss was quick to praise the win, saying: "This was a monster win and shows what the chaps are all about."

Next week the Crows travel to Cockfoster where another win will see them emerge into the upper half Spartan South Midlands Reserve Division One table.