Brache Sparta Res 3 Royston Town Res 3 ROYSTON Town Reserves impressive run continued, although they had to settle for a share of the points against Brache on Saturday. Striker Dave McMurrough also continued his rich vein of form with a well-taken hat-t

Brache Sparta Res 3

Royston Town Res 3

ROYSTON Town Reserves' impressive run continued, although they had to settle for a share of the points against Brache on Saturday.

Striker Dave McMurrough also continued his rich vein of form with a well-taken hat-trick, although Crows were made to work for the point.

They started brightly, with McMurrough firing home Danny Nicholls's excellent pass in the opening minute.

However, the hosts soon hit back with Jason Pallet's goal under siege as Brache searched for an equaliser, with centre-back Michael Bloss and midfielders Liam Beaumont and Connor De Lacy kept busy.

The home side drew level though with a goal four minutes into first-half injury time, courtesy of a back post header.

Early in the second half, Royston looked like they might regret a host of missed opportunities when a defensive mix-up left Pallet exposed as Brache took a 2-1 lead.

And the home side thought they had done enough, but Royston's new-found resilience rose to the fore and they were back in the game when Chris Geldart's deep cross was headed home by McMurrough.

There was more drama to come when Brache were awarded a controversial penalty following Bloss's innocuous challenge, with the 92nd-minute spot kick looking as if it had secured all three points.

But Royston poured forward, and were awarded a free-kick just outside the Brache box following a late tackle, which was followed by the dismissal of Bloss for dissent.

However, the lifeline was duly taken when Beaumont crashed the resulting free-kick on to the bar, with McMurrough on hand to head home the rebound.