Crows 4 Blues 2
BLUES’ failure to turn their first half domination into goal came back to haunt them as they went down 4-2 at Royston Town, on Easter Monday.
Kevin Watson’s side produced an excellent display in the final 30 minutes of the first half but had only a well-taken goal from skipper Mark Hughes to show for their efforts, and four goals in the space of 20 minutes after the break saw their five gam unbeaten run come to an end.
After seeing their home game against Merthyr Town fall victim to the rain, Watson brought Tom Clifford and Freddie Oatman into the starting line-up and after a shaky start which saw Blues’ keeper Callum Kitscha save well from Powell’s half volley 18 yards out, the visitors took a 21st minute lead.
George Casey earned the visitors their first corner of the game, and the impressive Darren Foxley swung in the flag kick and Hughes evaded the home defence to send a firm header just inside the near post.
The hosts should have doubled that advantage ten minutes later as Foxley won the ball down the left and played the ball in for Hughes who fired just past the far post when he may have been off passing to the unmarked Jamie Cureton.
Cureton also saw an effort flash just wide as Blues finished the first half well on top, but having had the slope in their favour in the first 45 minutes it was clear that they needed a second goal.
Bridges headed wide for the hosts after a dangerous cross from the left early in the second half before the Crows leveled the score on the hour mark as Castigniole’s shot fortunately deflected into the path of Joe Hankins who fired home from 18 yards.
While the refereeing grew increasingly erratic, Blues could have few complaints about Royston’s 71st minute penalty as Hughes fouled Adam Murray in the box, and Bridges dispatched the spot kick to put his side ahead.
The hosts made it 3-1 four minutes later as Kitscha made his first serious mistake since joining Blues in late February when he completely misjudged a long clearance after Callum Taylor had gone close, and allowed Castigniole to round him and fire home.
Foxley went close to reducing the arrears, but the game was effectively over as a contest in the 79th minute as Blues failed to clear a long ball and Powell fired into the corner of the net from just inside the box.
Cureton gave the sizable number of Blues’ fans in the 346 crowd hope when he met Foxley’s perfect cross in the 84th minute and drove the ball home, but aside from a fracas between Blues’ sub Callum Taylor and Murray, there was little action in the final minutes as Royston closed out their win.
Blues: C Kitscha, G Casey, T Clifford, M Hughes, M Ekpiteta (M Brassington), J Robinson, J Westcott, F Oakman, A Mason (C Taylor), J Cureton, D Foxley. Unused subs: C Cruse, J , Crowther, Riley
