Buntingford Town 4 Royston Town 1 BUNTINGFORD won the Western Division of the Ridgeons midweek league for the second year running by defeating local rivals Royston town last week. The championship success means that boss Paul Attfield has now managed div

Buntingford Town 4 Royston Town 1

BUNTINGFORD won the Western Division of the Ridgeons midweek league for the second year running by defeating local rivals Royston town last week.

The championship success means that boss Paul Attfield has now managed division winning teams in four of the last five seasons - the first two successes coming with the Crows before he left to join Buntingford.

The game was played at a good pace throughout with both teams contributing fine effort but within the first 20 minutes the home side struggled to keep the ball well enough to create clear chances with Royston looking more likely to score but not actually testing the home goal.

Attfield changed the formation to 3-4-3 mid way through the half and the move paid off for his side as they contrived to dominate the rest of the half and more importantly create good chances.

Leroy Williams had a one on one effort blocked by the goalkeepers legs and Josh Bronti a header cleared off the line before Buntingford took the lead in the 25th minute when Williams placed a through ball wide of the advancing keeper.

Five minutes later the lead was doubled when a Luke Robins' header was superbly saved by the keeper but Robins reacted quickest to turn and ram home the loose ball into the top corner from eight yards.

The trio of first-half goals were completed in the 35th minute when a good Robins run saw him set a well placed pass for Will Turl so send a bullet 20 yard effort high into the net giving the keeper no chance.

The second half was more low key with both teams making substitutions as the half wore on and the pace of the game gradually dropped and there were few and far chances created.

Buntingford completed their scoring midway through the half when a defender headed a Josh Bronti cross into his own net but Royston had the last word late on with a deserved consolation, a fine left footed 20 yard strike into the top left corner.

Buntingford will now go on to meet the South Division winners in the quarter final of the end of season Roseberry Cup where they will travel to Braintree Town on Monday April 23.

Buntingford: J Gibson, D Apostolos, P Stevens, L Endacott (J Tyler), W Turl (J Shaughnessy), L Beaumont, J Morriss, J Bronti, R Young, L Williams, L Robins (S Chester). Unused sub: R Cooke