Crows too strong fir Stortford and St Neotts

Eastern Junior Alliance League

Bishops Stortford 0 Royston Town 2

The young Crows started their Eastern Junior Alliance League campaign with a 2-0 win away to a strong Bishops Stortford side on Sunday morning.

On a lovely playing surface both teams’ attempts to play fast, passing football was rewarded with good possession and chances but it was Royston who were far more clinical in front of goal.

Stortford started well but never really tested the goal and Royston opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Daniel Bond beat the offside trap to score.

This lead was doubled 10 minutes late when Luke Reed’s quick free-kick caught the hosts napping and Jordan Spencer controlled well in the area before firing into the corner.

Royston defended well in the second half to limit Stortford to mere half chances and as the half wore on they should have extended their lead with George Duffin and Daniel Bond both going close while Tom Spencer had a header cleared off the line.

Stortford’s best chance came in injury time when a forward’s close-range volley struck the outside of the post but this result was fully merited from the Royston side

Ridgeoons Youth League

St Neots Town 1 Royston Town 3

The top two sides in the league produced an entertaining game on Thursday evening and another fine performance from Royston gave them a fully deserved three points.

Royston dominated long spells of the first half and looked more likely to score with wide players Luke Hennessey and Ryan Webb prominent in most of their good play.

Webb came closest the scoring with a stunning and 25-yard volley that smashed against the upright before a similar effort shortly afterwards was saved superbly by the ‘keeper.

A number of crosses from the two wide players should have been rewarded with goals but the finishing was not as ruthless as it should have been. Shane Carthy came closest when his eight-yard header went agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

St Neots had a talented side that always looked to play the ball on the floor but found themselves limited to mainly half chances that ‘keeper Daniel Plumb was always alert too.

Royston continued to look threatening in the second half with Webb twice volleying off target while Shane Carthy struck a 20-yard shot against a post.

St Neots had better chances with a free-kick which flashed across the area and Plumb saved the Crows twice with smart saves.

Just as people were contemplating a goalless draw but the Crows hit three goals in a seven-minute period with the first coming 14 minutes from time.

Webb’s free kick was miss-cleared into the area and Jordan Spencer reacted quickest to head home from eight yards.

Ryan Webb’s goal shortly after deserved to win any game when he riffled an unstoppable left footed 30-yard free-kick past the hapless ‘keeper.

Centre-half Jahmell Mullings then got in on the act when he arrived unmarked at the far post to head home Webb’s free kick to make the game safe.

A late goalkeeping error gave St Neots the chance of a consolation which was gleefully accepted but this was another impressive showing from Royston’s new-look youth squad and they go into next week’s FA Youth Cup game with Stanway Rovers at the top of the league and full of confidence.

Team : Plumb Brennan Hodgson Mullings T Spencer Reed (Worbey) Carthy Hennessey Bond (Richardson) J Spencer (Hall) Webb