After the highs of New Year’s Day, would we be able to pick up another three points in a six-pointer down at the bottom? On a pitch, which was sloped and hard to not have your boot sink into the ground, but it was still a better pitch than Berkhamsted, so I am told. We made a couple of changes to our starting lineup after our Derby Day win: Bradbrook, Oluwatimilehin, Lewis, and Dickens, made up our unchanged backline, the first change came in the midfield, Malachi was replaced by Ollie Brown in the ‘wing-back’ position, so in the middle it was a four of Tarpey, Hunter, Turner (C), and Brown, the final change was in the attack as Romario Dunne replaced Reuben Marshall, meaning our front three was Mills, Neal and Dunne, scary, I would say, and so would the ref by how the match went! Our Subs consisted of Napa, Oteng, Bradley, and Marshall, not bad options to have off the bench!

In the first half, we didn’t have much to shout about, we were attacking uphill after switching sides during the coin toss. However, that didn’t seem to stop the hosts who started the brighter of the two sides. Bradders was the first goalie to be called into action as he had to make a superb stop to end a quick counter attack. Despite the ball getting caught up under our feet, especially when we were trying to play flowing football - not easy on that type of pitch. We tried to fire ourselves into the lead as Millsey’s dinked effort just went wide of the post. Two yellow cards were given in the first half; one to Wilson-Braithwaite, for a foul on Millsey (which the yellow was given for) before Wilson-Braithwaite kicked the ball away for the second time this match, the first time he was given “The Benefit of the Doubt” by the referee. Romario Dunne was the other player yellow carded as he fouled on the half way line, a soft yellow card to say the least.

We went into half-time level, after not playing our best half of football we were happy to take it.

In the second half, we started off stronger. We won an early corner, and despite nothing coming from it, it was a sign of what was to come. Millsey then forced the goalkeeper to make a really good low stop; four minutes later, we scored the opener. Joe Neal made a great run down the wing, and he cut back to Romario who curled his ‘trivela’ shot into the top corner, just like Millsey’s last week, but the opposite side. For 15 minutes after that we looked like we were on the verge of scoring a second. However, that was all about to fall apart from bizarre decisions. Joe ran one on one with the goalie but was deemed offside, he then had a shot which went well wide. Resulting in him being given a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Two minutes later as he chased the goalie down, the ‘keeper jumped into the air, looking like an Olympic synchronised swimmer. The ref had his back turned to the incident and Joe and the goalie shared a laugh at the pathetic attempt at a dive. However, the linesman decided that Joe had really injured the 'keeper and waved his flag up, as the ref called play back for a free kick. He tapped his pocket to the linesman asking if he should give a card for the blatant dive in which he was told to do. So, Joe Neal was given a baffling second yellow and told to go for an early bath. Two or so minutes later, the hosts equalised after we failed to clear a corner. Two minutes later, Romario slid into a 50/50 in which he went down injured along with the other player, but he had apparently made a worse challenge than the Royston player, so the referee went to his favourite pocket and gave a second yellow card to our goal scorer. Royston, a minute or so later went up the other end and from 30-yards out, after Millsey was fouled, released an effort into the top corner. Take nothing away from the strike, but definitely a foul in the buildup. Then, the ref blew the final whistle after producing eight yellow cards and two red cards.

Well, it was a disgrace really. This season, we have had the feeling of coming away from a match with nothing, despite deserving something, and having to accept the fact. Today it is much tougher. Through no fault of the Royston Fans nor most of the players, I am looking at you Number 1, the match has been overshadowed. We wish them all the best for the rest of the season. We will be back.

Next week we play Alvechurch, we will be without some important players for sure, but the lads can hold their heads high for yesterday. Lets back them all once again next week.

UP THE SUDS

Isaac Mennie