North Greenford United 5 Royston Town 0 PHIL SNOWDEN gave his Royston side just five out of 10 after Saturday s FA Cup defeat to North Greenford United. He said: It wasn t our best performance that s for sure, and with the exception of Stuart Snowden,

North Greenford United 5

Royston Town 0

PHIL SNOWDEN gave his Royston side just five out of 10 after Saturday's FA Cup defeat to North Greenford United.

He said: "It wasn't our best performance that's for sure, and with the exception of Stuart Snowden, Greg Jackson, and Peter Chappell, the team was below par."

Unfortunately for Snowden, North Greenford also scored five - but where it counted - as the Crows crashed out at the extra preliminary stage of the competition, with their young defence coming unstuck against a United attack that has scored 11 goals in three games.

In contrast, Town's defence has conceded 13 goals in three games.

Once again Royston were missing a host of first team players, with Danny Crosk, Matt Hayden, John Dundon, Jamie White, and David Daniels all making their debuts.

But they are probably debuts to forget as the young side found themselves 3-0 down at the break with Greenford creating a host of chances.

And their dominance was rewarded when Gary Senior opened the scoring to continue his impressive run of form with a goal after 15 minutes.

Mick Booth also found the net for Greenford, before Royston captain Stuart Snowden scored an unfortunate own goal when he got in the way of a cross only to see the ball ricochet over keeper Greg Jackson.

In the second half the Crows mounted a brief comeback with Peter Chappell pushing the ball out of defence, and Snowden and Lee Rogers looking to find Graham Tibbals and Jez McMurrough on the break.

Despite seeing more of the ball, the visitors lacked the cutting edge, and the team from the Combined Counties Premier League snatched two more goals through Luc Kenny and Michael Peacock.

Snowden said: "We showed our naivety again and as a result conceded five goals. Greenford knew what they were doing and exploited our defence. They're a level above us and that showed - they were a very good team.

"With the side that we had out I knew it was going to be difficult. It's a very disappointing result and unfortunately the FA Cup has come at a time when we have a lot of players missing.

"However, it is the league that I am most concerned about and it is there where we need to start winning. It is without question our priority!"

Royston: Jackson; Chappell, Bloss, Crosk, Hayden; Snowden, Rogers, Edwards, White; J McMurrough, Tibbals. (Subs): Daniels, Blair, Dundon.

- Royston face Bedford Town Reserves on Saturday at Garden Walk, with Snowden hopeful he will have Michael Baker, Seb Ndombe, Rob Gwynne, Mark Saunders and Dave McMurrough as his side search for the points to lift them off from the foot of the table.

Royston will definitely be without injured trio Allan Reid (broken toe), James Scott (thigh) and Brett Perkiss who is expected to be unavailable until Christmas.