Match Report
Southern League Premier Division Central
Royston Town
Hitchin Town
Callum Stead 45
Ready Stead-y go for Hitchin as Callum's goal guides Canaries to vital win over Royston

Nathan Edwards
Callum Stead bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win for Hitchin Town at Royston. - Credit: PETER ELSE
Callum Stead’s first-half strike handed Hitchin Town victory in the A505 derby and hoisted the Canaries closer to Southern League safety.
The forward's header on the cusp of half-time was all it took to separate the teams in what was a scrappy affair.
The home side came into this game full of confidence, after a 3-2 comeback win in their previous game against Redditch, and it showed early on.
Ed Asafu-Adjaye snuck round the defence to meet a cross with a diving header, two minutes in, but his acrobatic attempt was flicked wide.
Despite the early chance, the opening 45 minutes had been starved of quality for large parts of it, with the ball getting stuck in the mud at times.
With the surface proving a challenge, set-pieces became an important factor and with half-time looming Josh Coldicott-Stevens’ whipped free-kick was met by Stead, whose header crept past Dimi Kyriatzis.
Stead had passed up a chance to put the Canaries in the lead moments before the breakthrough, finding himself with space in the box but the goalkeeper was there to thwart any chance.
Most Read
- 1 Herts sex offender assaulted victim while she slept
- 2 Tractors take to the streets to raise money for hospital
- 3 Royston Museum finally reopens following two-year closure
- 4 Royston Town Council declares climate emergency
- 5 'Hooded thieves' stole three vehicles
- 6 Former company boss fined after illegal waste dumped at quarry
- 7 Plans for second multi-storey car park at Stevenage's Lister Hospital to help 'better meet demand'
- 8 Citizens Advice: Your rights should anything get lost or delayed in the post
- 9 Census data reveals Hertfordshire population boom over last decade
- 10 Vehicles, greenhouse and fence 'smashed' in Royston
The 23-year-old stopper continued to find himself having to deny Hitchin’s goal scorer.
With Royston camped in their visitors' half during the second period, counter attacks were available for Mark Burke’s men.
In the 59th minute, Stead had a chance to finish one of those breakaways. The winger picked up the ball in his own half and finished his surging run with a shot straight at Kyriatzis.
With the game almost at its conclusion, Royston had a chance to snatch a point through Matt Bateman.
Marcus Gouldbourne’s lofted cross fell on to the head of the forward but he planted his effort wide, to a cheer from the travelling fans who celebrated a vital win.
The result moves Hitchin out of the bottom two while Royston remain eight points behind the play-off places.