Royston Town signed off their turbulent Jekyll and Hyde Calor Southern League Division One Central season with a 4-2 away victory at Marlow.

Royston Crow: Action pictures from the game. Pictures by Kevin Richards.Action pictures from the game. Pictures by Kevin Richards. (Image: Kevrich66@hotmail.com RTFC v Marlow)

Boss Steve Castle reverted to mainly the defensive line-up and overall formation that had given Daventry a game, but introduced Dave Theobald for his first league game of the season after lengthy rehabilitation on a knee operation.

Midfielder Robbie Nightingale was injured in the warm-up and Ross Collins slotted in easily.

A minute into the game, Castle made another enforced change as Gary Hart was clattered by an industrial unpunished challenge that saw him stretchered off and he was replaced by Reece Dobson with Kaan Fehmi pushed to right midfield as Dobson joined Robbie Mason upfront.

This early reshuffle didn’t help a first half that was slightly scrappy and disjointed.

The Crows were visibly committed, eager to impress and harsh on themselves when moves didn’t work.

A few half chances were spurned with unimpressive shooting, but work rate and effort was still evident in this end of the season fixture.

Full back Jhai Dhillon had an impressive first half with some good defending and over-lap play.

Marlow took a lead into half-time when an under-hit back pass was smashed powerfully by George Lawton into the home side striker Jon Bennett who had closed down rapidly and the rebound bounced unluckily into the gaping net.

With no changes at half-time, the Crows came out for the second half pumped up for goals and were rewarded almost immediately as the over-lapping Jack Bradshaw was fouled in the box and the ever reliable Fehmi stepped up to slot home from the spot.

Marlow re-took the lead five minutes later as they were awarded a penalty of their own and Bennett smashed home.

Joe DeLaSalle got his team level again with a well worked corner routine that saw Fehmi’s delivery met on the half volley and his shot evaded many bodies as it found its way low into the net.

From then on it was all Royston and the remaining two substitutions were made with Ryan Wharton coming on for Theobald, who should be pleased with his hour’s match time, and Lewis Endacott replacing Fehmi on the right of midfield.

Carl Edwards set up the goal that saw Royston take the lead with a fine through ball that Dobson ran onto and without breaking stride clipped it first time with his trusty left foot into the far side-netting.

The scoring was completed with hard-working striker Mason rounding the exposed keeper and passed the ball into an unguarded goal.

This was a decent performance – especially in the second half, with all players contributing to a good away win.

These three points meant Royston would finish the season in seventh place, the same as the previous campaign.