Another pre-season win for the Crows

Herne Bay 0

Royston Town 2

Pre-season friendly

LUKE ROBINS scored twice on Saturday as the Crows defeated last season’s Kent Premier Division champions and FA Vase semi-finalists Herne Bay.

While the squad has been crippled by a freakishly high injury list and unavailability this summer which has frustrated manager Paul Attfield – performances and effort levels have been impressive. Royston also had new players on view in this game with centre halves Joe Delasalle and Jonny Butler, central midfielder Ollie Cleaver and a returning Rhys Lawrence all getting 90 minutes. All performed admirably in a solid team showing.

The Crows started the better with Luke Robins having an early chance when he raced clear but miskicked across the face of goal. Herne Bay were more threatening from set-plays with one free-kick just eluding all encroaching players and flashing wide. Another half cleared free kick was hit goalwards from 20 yards which Will Norris did well to tip over.

Matt Standen had Royston’s best chance of the half when he beat the offside trap but delayed his shot on goal and a last-ditch tackle gave the visitors a corner only.

However, it was a corner on the stroke of half time that brought the opening goal of the game when Jack Bradshaw’s near-post delivery was met by the head of Luke Robins from eight yards with the ball going in via the underside of the crossbar.

Herne Bay had a good period of pressure in the early stages of the second half but found the Crows difficult to break down and what chances that were created never troubled Norris in goal.

Royston doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Kaan Fehmi’s well-delivered free-kick was met by Robins who beat the keeper to the flight and headed into the empty net.

As the half wore on Town could have been more clinical as they began to hit the hosts on the counter-attack but were let down by poor decision making in the final third.

The work rate, however, never withered and a well committed game in front of a decent sized crowd was another worthwhile exercise for Attfield’s side.

Royston Town squad: Norris, G Butler, Endacott, Delasalle, J Butler, Cleaver, Bradshaw, Lawrence, Fehmi, Standen, Robins, Skeggs.