Royston Town boss Steve Castle wants his side to kick on this year and get as many wins in 2017 as the Crows managed over the past 12 months.

Town were 3-0 winners over Arlesey Town on Monday in their first game of the new year, despite some scares, thanks to goals from John Frendo, Spyros Mentis and Josh Castiglione.

It was also a first clean sheet since November and the victory was a result, coupled with a 2-1 win at Histon on Boxing Day, which moves Castle’s side three points clear of Farnborough at the top of the Southern Division One table with two matches in hand.

Next up for the Crows is a trip to Beaconsfield SYBOB this weekend while Farnborough make the journey to Potters Bar Town, and Castle wants his side to continue building on impressive statistics from last year as they look to push on with their promotion charge.

“In total we won 29 games from 41 league matches,” Castle told the club’s website.

“Every player involved in those games deserves a great deal of praise. Generally they have been brilliant.”

Castle continued: “Hopefully we can carry this on for the duration of the season, but impressive stats all the same.

“The game against Arlesey Town ended with a convincing scoreline but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Although we were dominant from the start, we could well have been two or even three down.

“We didn’t defend like we normally do and if it wasn’t for exceptional goalkeeping from Joe [Welch] it could have been a different story.

“The lads know that we weren’t firing on all fronts but sometimes the result is the priority and performance secondary.

“So into the new year, a busy January coming up and big matches to be played. Our approach – one game at a time.”

Shortly after their trip to Beaconsfield, who the Crows beat 4-1 earlier in the season, Castle’s side make the journey to strugglers Kidlington on Wednesday.

Royston Town are then back on home soil next weekend with Fleet Town the visitors to their Garden Walk home.