PHIL Snowden remained positive despite seeing his Royston Town side lose 8-4 against high-flying Edgware Town on Tuesday evening: Again we started the game very brightly and went 1-0 up. We could have had a few more goals early on, with both Dave and Je

PHIL Snowden remained positive despite seeing his Royston Town side lose 8-4 against high-flying Edgware Town on Tuesday evening:

"Again we started the game very brightly and went 1-0 up. We could have had a few more goals early on, with both Dave and Jez McMurrough having good chances.

"But we had a mad spell of four minutes, where we gave the ball away in dangerous areas and our mistakes were punished. They scored three quick goals and from there it was very hard to get back in the game.

"Football wise we looked very good again, but our naivety kicked in yet again. In the opening 20 minutes we were on top. But once they started scoring I think the boys thought 'here we go again'. And that's when the fear began to kick in."

Snowden admitted to being frustrated as his side went into the break trailing 6-2: "At half-time I gave the players a bit of a talking to, I couldn't believe we had done the same as the week before. We were trying to play too much pretty football and got caught out - and they need to learn."

"I think our young players can learn from the Edgware's players. They can learn from the way they played and see how the simple things can be just as effective."

Royston Town 4 Edgware Town 8

ROYSTON Town’s defensive frailties were there for everyone to see at Garden Walk on Tuesday night as they were involved in a 12-goal thriller.

The Crows conceded six goals in a 23 minute spell in the first half against league-leading Edgware, and although they showed they are quite capable of hitting the net themselves, their defensive problems will be starting to haunt boss Phil Snowden.

Snowden’s team had already conceded 69 goals in 25 league games – eight more than anyone else in the South Midlands League Premier Division – and they are now averaging nearly three goals conceded per game.

It was also the seventh time Royston have conceded six or more goals this season.

Both sides had early chances, but it was the Crows who took the lead in the 18th minute when teenager Rob Gwynne cut in the from the right and fired pas Darren Bonfield in the visitors goal.

That lead lasted just two minutes and what followed proved to be a defensive nightmare for the home side.

Ben Cain levelled the score before that a back heel by Adam Wallace saw Lewis turn the defence to give Richard Morton the shot to make it 2-1.

Worse was to follow, and in the 24th minute a run down the right by Wallace and a cross into Cain to score his second and then a great individual goal by Wallace made it 4-1 just past the half hour mark

Five minutes later Morton made it five with a well struck 25-yard free-kick, beating the wall and giving Chris Chambers no chance of saving his blistering shot.

Cain completed his hat-trick when Chambers came out of his goal to collect the ball, which slipped from his grasp, the tall striker casually walked the loose ball into goal with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Finally, it was Royston’s turn to score again when they won a corner in the dying seconds of the half and the ball was centred for Jez McMurrough to cut the half-time arrears to 6-2.

It took only six second half minutes for the goal-fest to continue, Morton converting from the spot after he had been pulled down by Chambers.

A good cross from Jez McMurrough saw the deficit again cut back to four when he crossed for his brother Dave to head home, and it was Jez who powered home Royston’s fourth just before the hour mark.

The scoring finally came to a close in the 63rd minute when Mark Buchanan made it 8-4 to round off an incredible night at Garden Walk

- The Crows return to Garden Walk on Saturday when seventh placed Chalfont St Peter are the visitors