"Bucks looking for a performance to shout about against the Crows"

Match Date : December 7th, 2024 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Garden Walk, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7HP
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks head to Hertfordshire this weekend to take Royston Town.

Over the three full seasons since football returned after Covid, the Crows have been remarkably consistent in terms of the number of points that they’ve put on the board. Town picked up 59, 55 and 57 during those campaigns to finish 8th, 13th and 10th, respectively. But Royston’s almost-identical points tallies are perhaps the result of being consistently inconsistent. Last season Town won 17 and lost 17, with very similar patterns playing out in the two campaigns prior.

Indeed, Royston’s results have been a mixed bag again this season. At the start of September, the Crows won 3-0 at Bedford in the FA Cup before then beating league leaders Kettering 1-0. But Town have also had some disappointing results, such as a 2-2 home draw with Hitchin and a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to struggling Spalding. So, while Town currently find themselves just three points of the relegation places in 17th, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Crows suddenly flew up the table. They are, in fact, also only a couple of wins away from the fringes of the playoffs in the presently very congested table.

Royston are managed by Chris Watters, who started last season as joint-manager alongside Steve Castle. But with Castle leaving shortly before Christmas last year, Watters has now been in sole charge for close to a year. Watters has a decade-long association with the Hertfordshire club, having been a player and coach for the Crows prior to joining the management team.

Watters made minimal changes to his squad over the summer, but new keeper Tommy Dixon-Hodge (King’s Lynn), young centre back Harvey Beckett (Cambridge United), and midfielder Jesse Akubuine (Waltham Abbey) have all become regulars. Dangerman Luke Johnson has six league goals so far this season, while captain Adam Murray is now in his eighth season with the Crows.

The Bucks beat Royston 3-0 on the opening day of the 2023/24 campaign, but Kevin Wilkin’s men blew a 2-0 lead late on a damp night at Garden Walk in February; the sides eventually drawing 2-2. The Bucks have been impressive in winning the last two away games in the league at Stamford and Leiston and will be looking for another win this weekend to keep their promotion challenge going strong.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.roystontownfc.co.uk

Ground Address: Garden Walk, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7HP