Royston Town boss Steve Castle insists he can solves the Crows’ slow start as the Garden Walk outfit prepare to face Rushall on Saturday.

Royston are still searching for their first Evo-Stik Southern League Central victory after Garden Walk was left looking anything but a fortress following a 5-2 thumping from Leiston on Tuesday and a 2-2 tie with Stratford.

Goals from Chris Assombalonga’s and a James Fry’s own-goal were matched by Stratford strikes from Bradley Maslen-Jones and Michael Taylor’s, leaving the Crows with two points from three games.

Speaking to CrowSport, Castle said: “It’s been a strange start to the season.

“We’ve been giving goals away that teams haven’t earned and been punished for the silliest of mistakes. It’s not been good enough and needs to be rectified.

“It’s an uncertain time, there’s a few lads bedding in and the intensity of the season always comes as a shock. We’ve not quite been there, so roll on some more consistency from the players.

“Even though the results haven’t shown it, there’s been positives. The flaws are solvable but we need to get our first win quickly.”

The visitors were ahead at the break after Maslen-Jones was allowed to stride forward and bend in an expert strike for 1-0 after 39-minutes.

Royston were rewarded for a strong start to the second half with a gift, as James Potton’s low cross was knocked in by Stratford captain Fry after 50-minutes.

The Crows went 2-1 up six minutes later. Rhodell Gordon sliced a pass through the midfield to Assombalonga, who slotted under the keeper on his first start in Castle’s side.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser, finding joy down the flanks. After 82-minutes, Will Grocott’s cross was thumped in by a Taylor header.

Stratford seized momentum but couldn’t overhaul the Crows, as the game ended 2-2.

Castle said: “Chris (Assombalonga) hadn’t been firing on all cylinders since he had a virus he had a few weeks ago, it knocked him for six.

“I’m really pleased Chris got on the scoresheet and I’m very confident he’ll do extremely well for this club.”

Royston face a 220-mile round-trip to the West Midlands on Saturday, as Rushall Olympic stand in the Crows’ way of a much needed win.

Castle said: “I want us to get our three points but that’ll be a hard task against Rushall.

“I class us as a naturally attacking team but we’ll approach it with a little more caution.”

Rushall were transferred across from the Northern Premier League in the summer’s reshuffle, and are unbeaten after three matches.

After a sluggish start - drawing with Banbury United and Coalville Town - they earned a 1-0 win over St Neots Town on Saturday.

Castle said: “My message to the players will be to not gift goals away, that’s been our mistake so far.”