Royston Town 0-0 Leiston - Match Report

The Blues picked up another point on Tuesday night as they drew 0-0 at Royston Town. In doing so, they moved off the bottom of the BetVictor Southern League Central Premier table and it was also their first clean sheet of the season.

Glen Driver had George Keys still suspended while Josh Hitter was ill. Rob Eagle, Harry Knights and Rhys Henry remained on the sidelines injured.

After just forty seconds of the match starting, Claudio Ofosu got down the left flank for Royston and had an effort that Sam Donkin dealt with in the Blues goal. The hosts kept up the pressure in the first five minutes and Noel Aitkens did well to clear the danger from a dangerous delivery into the penalty area. Leiston’s first chance came in the sixth minute after a free kick into the box that fell to Nathan Stewart on the edge of the box but he shot well wide of the target. Ofosu worked another chance but it went wide while Andy Fennell went close for Leiston. The away side started to dominate possession more and won some free kicks. This seemed to unsettle Royston and the referee booked two home players in quick succession. However, the hosts became more lively once more as the half progressed and Harold Joseph hit a thunderous strike from distance that forced Donkin into a fine save. Leiston had one more chance before the first period came to a close but Kyran Clements couldn’t get his strike away and the danger was cleared.

Leiston came out of the blocks well for the second half and John Sands released Andy Fennell early on but Joe Welch was down well to his right. Midfield duo Byron Lawrence and Noel Aitkens linked up well and once again fed Fennell but his strike was pushed out by Welch once again. Royston could have taken the lead moments later when a cross into the away area was met by the head of Josh Castiglione but Sam Donkin made a great save and Kyran Clements cleared the loose ball off the goal line. Both sides made subs quickly, with the Blues bringing off Ollie Saunders and John Sands for Mason Sinclair and Jerry Kamanzi. Nathan Stewart did well to win a free kick on the right byline but Lawrence’s free kick was dealt with easily. Matthew Bateman though he had opened the scoring but once again Donkin made a fine save to keep the ball out. The home side worked the ball well once again as time started to tick down but Noel Aitkens got back to slide in with a last ditch tackle. From the resultant throw in, Leiston could clear only as far to sub Adam Watkins but his lobbed attempt only found the roof of Donkin’s goal. In the 89th minute, Aitkens was booked for a foul on the edge of the area but Scott Bridges curled free kick went just inches over the crossbar. Leiston saw the four minutes of stoppages out to gain a well deserved point in the end.

FT: - Royston Town 0-0 Leiston.

The Blues now visit Redditch United in Saturday afternoon in another massive league encounter.

Line-ups: -

Royston Town: - Welch, Asafu-Adjaye, Brighton, Bridges, Martin, Braithwaite, Joseph (Watkins 66 mins), Mentis, Bateman, Castiglione (Scott-Morriss 81 mins), Ofosu (Adams 66 mins). Subs not used: - Crowther, Warner-Eley.

Leiston: - Donkin, Hammond, Saunders (Sinclair 55 mins), Aitkens, Odelusi, Clements, Lawrence, Stewart, Fennell, Sands (Kamanzi 59 mins), Davies. Subs not used: - Bacon, Andrews, Beckwith.

Man Of The Match: - Sam Donkin.

Attendance: - 211.