Steve Castle believes ‘bucket loads of character and determination’ dragged nine-man Royston Town to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at second-bottom Histon on Boxing Day which puts them back on top of Southern League Division One Central.

James Carmen put the hosts ahead just before the break but two quick-fire strikes from Ryan Ingrey and skipper Scott Bridges, who was later sent off, sealed their 11th straight league triumph as the Crows moved three points clear of second-placed Farnborough with two games still in hand.

Royston will face several games without the aforementioned Bridges and Adam Murray after their late dismissals while Shaun Jenkins was sent off for the Stutes in an untidy ending to the game but manager Castle was delighted to keep their winning run going.

Castle said: “Histon equipped themselves very well and can feel hard done by that they didn’t get anything out of the game.

“It was not a classic in terms of pure football. We could have got the ball down more but what was not lacking from our tremendous players was bucket loads of character and determination which when things don’t go exactly how we want it to is needed in certain games.”

On the sending-offs, he added: “Three lads got red cards in a tough but fair game and all can feel unlucky to have been sent off.

“We will obviously miss our suspended lads but this is when our squad comes into play.”

The league leaders begin 2017 with a home league clash against struggling Arlesey Town on Monday.

The Armadillo Stadium side sit fourth bottom but look to be safe this campaign, sitting 17 points clear of Histon in the table.

Arlesey visit Garden Walk without a point or a goal in their previous three Division One Central encounters.