ROYSTON 3 HADLEY 2 (aet) Herts Charity Shield A WONDER strike from Graham Tibbals saved his side from the lottery of a penalty shootout with 10-man Royston deserved winners. It was an impressive first game for The Crows on Tuesday night. The only downsi

ROYSTON 3 HADLEY 2 (aet)

Herts Charity Shield

A WONDER strike from Graham Tibbals saved his side from the lottery of a penalty shootout with 10-man Royston deserved winners.

It was an impressive first game for The Crows on Tuesday night.

The only downside came on 35 minutes, when the returning Kojo Ofori was sent off following two yellow cards.

It was a blow for manager Phil Snowden, who had given the talented but unpredictable midfielder a reprieve after a series of disciplinary problems last season.

Snowden said: "I felt he deserved another chance and I went out on a limb for him - I couldn't believe he had been sent off again.

"He's actually a great lad, but it seems that every time he puts on a Royston shirt there's a problem.

"So a decision had to be made, and Kojo has left the club amicably. It's a real shame but the club couldn't put up with it any more.

"However, everything else on the night was great and it was a good win to put us on the road. The boys had to work hard and I was very pleased with their effort and attitude."

The Crows went behind after two minutes when Denilson Vicente lofted the ball over a stranded James Scott.

Stand in captain Lee Rogers shone in midfield, and created a number of chances, with Jason Nash and Danny Miles going close.

When Scott made the second of two top drawer saves early in the second half, Royston upped the tempo and were rewarded when Dave McMurrough's flying volley made it 1-1 from a perfectly flighted Miles cross.

McMurrough added another, moments late before Hadley captain Neil Robinson forced extra time with minutes to go after Kennet Mumba took advantage of slack defending on the edge of the Royston box.

The hard-working Brett Perkiss rattled the bar with an audacious overhead kick in extra time.

And just as both managers were drawing up their list of penalty takers, the lively Tibbals sealed the win, beating two players and drilling a delightful strike into the far corner.

Snowden said: "Tibbs never scores easy goals and that was probably one of his best. He and McMurrough worked tirelessly throughout.

"I was also impressed with the new players like Perkiss and Scott.

"It's always nice to win in the cup and it would be good to put a cup run together. However, the league has to be our priority."

Royston: Scott; Saunders, Miles, Baker, Reid; Ofori, Nash, Edwards, Rogers; Tibbals, McMurrough. Subs: Blair, Perkiss.

- Royston face Cambridge City in a friendly tonight (Thursday), 7.45pm at Garden Walk. They entertain Broxbourne on Saturday, at 3pm, and Ware on Tuesday, at 7.45pm.

The Crows visit Bedford on Saturday, August 11 for their first league game of the season.

TOM BROWN at Garden Walk