"Bucks looking to finish on a high against the Crows"

Match Date : April 26th, 2025 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks will finish the regular season with a home game against 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 points during those campaigns to finish 8th, 13th and 10th, respectively, and they are set to finish on a similar figure again this year. Currently in 11th on 56 points, the Crows could finish anywhere from 11th to 13th.

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. Meanwhile, their record this term reads won 14, drawn 14 and lost 13.

Royston are managed by Chris Watters, who started last season as joint-manager alongside Steve Castle. But with Castle leaving shortly before Christmas 2023, Watters has now been in sole charge for a season and a half. 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’ side’s strength lies in defence. Having conceded only 48 league goals this campaign, the Crows have the division’s 7th-best defensive record. However, the Hertfordshire side also have the 6th-worst attack. In fact, Royston’s performances are perhaps best summed up by the fact that centre back and captain, Adam Murray, is Royston’s top scorer in the league with eight goals.

The Crows tend to perform better at home, where they’ve picked up 35 of their 56 points this year, and that’s a record that is reflected in past meetings with the Bucks. Kevin Wilkin’s men have drawn 2-2 and 3-3 at Garden Walk over the last two seasons, but the Bucks ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at home on the opening day of the 2023/24 campaign.

Wilkin’s men found two very late goals to salvage a point when the sides met back in January. With the Bucks looking likely to finish 3rd or 4th, Wilkin’s men will be after all three points to secure home advantage for the playoff semi final.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online in advance. See our ticketing page for further details.