Royston Town failed to build on an impressive opening-day league victory as they fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Bedworth United last night.

On Saturday, Steve Castle’s side had proved too good for Rugby Town at Garden Walk as they claimed the three points with a 2-1 victory.

But against Bedworth, despite dominating possession, a lack of cutting edge in front of goal cost the Crows as they suffered their first defeat of the Southern League Division One Central season.

The early chances all fell to the hosts, with former Brighton & Hove Albion man coming close on a couple of occasions to breaking the deadlock.

But it was the division newcomers Bedworth who opened the scoring on 15 minutes.

Aaron Bains, who was the standout player on the park, burst into the box after some slack home defending, only to be tripped by Lewis Endacott.

Danny Dubidat stepped up to fire low and hard to keeper Paul Bastock’s right to put the visitors ahead.

Hart, who worked hard without luck all game, was denied an equaliser only a minute later when Bedworth keeper Denim Hinds spectacularly parried a fierce drive over the bar.

Then it was Bastock’s turn to earn the plaudits as he got a fingertip to a Dubidat header to deny the Bedworth man his second of the game.

Royston got themselves back level two minutes before half-time when a Kaan Fehmi free-kick caused panic in the Bedworth box, and Jack Bradshaw got the faintest of touches to defelct the ball into the net.

The second period reflected the first - Royston dominated possession and created more chances, but Bedworth proved clinical in front of goal.

First Alex Naughton put the away side in front on 56 minutes when Royston’s defence were at sixes and sevens, and he had the simplest of jobs to prod home. And 12 minutes later it was 3-1 when Bains bagged the goal his performance deserved with a tap-in after Bastock had parried Dubidat’s effort back out.

A sour point for the visitors was Kurt Mewis receiving a second yellow card, but they held on to go home with the three points.

Pick up a copy of this week’ Royston Crow for manager Steve Castle’s reaction to the Crows’ first league defeat.