Tokyngton Manor 2 Royston Town 1 ROYSTON Town suffered their first league defeat since August 6 when they went down 2-1 away to Tokyngton Manor last night (Tuesday). Late arrivals due to traffic, players getting lost, a treacherous pitch and a fired up oppo

Tokyngton Manor 2 Royston Town 1

ROYSTON Town suffered their first league defeat since August 6 when they went down 2-1 away to Tokyngton Manor on Tuesday evening.

Late arrivals due to traffic, players getting lost, a treacherous pitch and a fired up opposition made it a nightmare of an evening for The Crows as they deservedly slipped to a second league defeat of the season.

With first choice centre backs David Cain and Jamie Babbage unable to make the delayed 8pm kick off, striker Craig Hammond was asked to start at the back with Lewis Endacott but with everyone else available apart from the still injured Michael Debnam, Royston were still able to put out a strong line on the pitch.

However obvious signs of lack of match play and a pitch that actually had to survive a pre-match inspection hampered Royston's usual passing game and the home side's physical approach and relentless work rate were in the end too much to handle.

Within six minutes the home side had took the lead with poor defending contributing to the score and 15 minutes later the lead was doubled with more poor team defending allowing a close range finish following a free kick.

Paul Attfield made an early change by bringing on Cain after he had finally managed to make it to the ground, and this allowed Attfield to push Hammond back up top in a three-man frontline.

The changes led to the Crows' best period of the game when they hit Tokyngton with a relentless period of pressure.

Both Tom Malins and Luke Robins had good shots hit the face of an upright and the home keeper made a couple of smart saves, but for all of their work the Crows were unable to get a goal back before the break.

The second half was disappointing from Royston's point of view as they lacked any penetration and only had a Craig Hammond penalty mid way through the half to show for their efforts after Ricky Young had been tripped in the box.

Despite nine minutes of injury time the Crows were unable to level the match and the final whistle sounded to start the home team's celebrations.

Speaking after the game, Paul Attfield said: "

"I am not looking for excuses but the whole night was just a complete disaster.

"I have no problem with the outcome as Tokyngton deserved their win against a side looking look a short of match practice team.

"Some players didn't look as though they fancied the pitch or physical challenge and therefore we looked disjointed throughout and going one goal down let alone two was going to be a massive ask from then on.

"It's a good wake up call for us at a good time and a reminder that absolutely nothing has been achieved this season yet and there is still a massive lot of work to be done."

Royston: Gibson, Endacott (Babbage), Stephens (Cain), Hammond, Apostolos, Welch (Jackson), Edwards, Malins, Lockett, Young, Robins. Sub: Morriss