Stansted 2 Royston Town 5 RYAN Wade completed a dream debut for his new side with a stunning hat-trick to help his team progress to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. The striker signed from Hertford Town on Thursday and was thrown straight in to the si

Stansted 2 Royston Town 5

RYAN Wade completed a dream debut for his new side with a stunning hat-trick to help his team progress to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

The striker signed from Hertford Town on Thursday and was thrown straight in to the side by boss Paul Attfield, and he responded magnificently as Royston ran out comfortable winners in front of a crowd of 159.

Paul Attfield also welcomed back Ricky Young to the starting line up to boost his forward options and the attacking prowess his team showed at times persistently opened up their Essex Senior League hosts.

Royston had the first opportunity of the game after just five minutes when Lewis Endacott's cross was headed against the post by Luke Robins, and soon after a twist and turn in the box from Will Turl saw his effort clear the crossbar.

At the other end the Crows were a little off the pace and Vinny Durrant poked the ball wide from six yards with goalkeeper Richard Barlow wrong footed after the Royston defence failed to clear a long throw.

Royston took the lead in the 26th minute when midfielder Tom Malins turned well on the edge of the area and rifled an unstoppable shot inside the keeper's near post and the visitors began to take charge of the game with Robins hitting an angled 20-yarder which was well tipped over by the Stansted keeper.

However they were hit by a sucker punch in the 36th minute when another long throw caught the Crows asleep and a forward was able to control, turn and riffle a six-yard shot high into the net giving Barlow no chance.

Royston re-organised and Wade hit a double within 90 seconds of the equaliser.

In the 38th minute he superbly headed over the keeper from a deep Robins' cross and the pairing linked up again just seconds later with Wade firing home Robins' pull back after an excellent solo run.

A fired up Stansted returned for the second half and started the better with Royston seemingly off the pace and they reduced the deficit on 52 minutes when a free header in midfield cut open the static Royston defence and Durrant placed the ball wide of Barlow's dive.

Royston looked rattled and had to endure some more pressure but another superb Wade goal on 64 minutes killed off Stansted's assault.

A long ball from defence caught the home side waiting for an offside which never arrived and Wade smashed an unstoppable 25-yard effort in via the crossbar and post.

Turl then had a fierce header superbly blocked by the keeper and another close range effort hit the crossbar while Malins saw another strike fizz inches wide of goal before Robins wrapped up the scoring in the 84th minute with the goal of the game.

Picking up the ball on half way he skipped past a couple of challenges and smashed an unstoppable shot from outside the box into the top right hand corner.

Royston's reward for winning is a �750 cheque and an away game against Potton United or Hoddesdon Town who replay on Tuesday evening after a 2-2 draw last Friday.

Paul Attfield said: "In terms of possession it was a fairly even contest but we definitely had a bigger cutting edge going forward and that was evident throughout and proven.

"We had some self inflicted panicky moments in defence that kept them interested but once Ryan got the fourth we looked relatively at ease.

"All the goals we scored today were top class and I'm delighted for Wadey. He looked completely at ease in his first outing and his hat-trick was sheer class. I'm sure there will be many more to come."

Royston: Barlow, Endacott, Debnam, Babbage (Bitting), Cain, Malins, Edwards, Young (Crosk), Wade, Turl, Robins (Morriss). Unused sub: Roach.