Rushall Olympic 1 Royston Town 3 - Report

After an impeccably minute`s silence in memory of Jordan Sinnot, who sadly lost his life last weekend, the home side had the first opportunity of the game after five minutes when the dangerous Chris Wreh set off on a great run, before cutting inside and sending his shot straight at goalkeeper Joe Welch.

On seven minutes the visitors were ahead with a fine goal when JOSH CASTIGLIONE sidefooted the ball home past Pics goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt.

The home side though hit back with Wreh again causing problems down the left and was again denied by Welch and then in the fourteenth minute the home side were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position but Alex Moore`s kick was straight at Welsh.

Royston were close to doubling their lead in the twenty fourth minute when Matt Bateman`s shot was deflected just wide for a corner and at the other end Wreh was again causing problems for the visitors but he failed to get any power in his shot and his effort was easily gathered by Welch but on the half hour the Crows did go further ahead when SCOTT BRIDGES beat Flatt to the ball and rolled the ball home from a tight angle.

Rushall though weren`t out of the game and they were denied what appeared to be a penalty when Spyros Mentis pulled over Kieran Cook but despite their protests Referee, Mr Eley, waved them aside and as the visitors broke Castiglione shot over.

With half time approaching Danny Waldron got to the by-line found Wreh with a cross but the striker was eventually crowded out.

There were no changes at the break and as the home side looked for a way back into the game Kieran Cook saw his shot saved by Welch but at the other end the visitors looked dangerous when Bateman`s cross was headed wide by Castiglione and the impressive striker then struck a powerful shot which was palmed away by Flatt.

The goal that the home side had been looking for finally arrived in the sixty sixth minute when Ben Martin, chested the ball down only to loose his footing and DANNY WALDRON`S fierce shot was deflected past Welch to give the home side a lifeline.

Play was now swinging from end to end and a good break from Royston ended with Castiglione shooting wide but on seventy one minutes Waldron almost grabbed his second goal of the game when his half volley flew just wide.

Jonathan Flatt then made a good save to keep out substitute Claudio Ofosu`s header and with three minutes remaining the Pics thought that had found the equaliser when Richard Batchelor`s shot was headed off the line by Adam Murray.

The visitors then clinched the game in the final minute with a terrific goal when the dangerous CASTIGLIONE ran on to a clearance and chipped the advancing Flatt to seal a fine win for Royston.

On another day the home side could well have earned themselves a point against one of the better sides in the division.

RUSHALL OLYMPIC:

Flatt, Clarke, Mitchell, Smith (Letford 46), Charlton, Whittall, Waldron,

Moore (O`Callaghan 49), Wreh, Cook (Whittingham 73), Batchelor

UNUSED SUBSTITUES: Mansell, Rowley

ROYSTON TOWN

Welch, Scott-Morriss (Green 64), Brighton, Bridges, Murray, Martin (Warner-Eley 70), Mentis, Asafu-Adjaye,

Oyinsan (Ofosu 64), Bateman, Castiglione