Crows fly past Rovers with three second half goals

Three second half goals condemned Barton Rovers to a 3-0 defeat at Royston Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central on New Year’s Day.

With a bumper home crowd of 194 the Crows showed tremendous energy and strength as they dominated the first 15 minutes.

Jermaine Hall sent two free-kicks well wide as Barton got into the game, creating several chances with Rhys Hoenes giving Royston left-back Lee Wilson a torrid time.

He made two excellent driving runs into the area, one ending in a good penalty shout and the other causing a looping ricochet off the Royston keeper that crept agonisingly over the bar.

Further chances saw Bobby Dance shoot from the edge of the area and Jonny McNamara make a surging run.

Royston began the second half as they had the first with a dominant and forceful display.

Brave Barton held on for 20 minutes before a moment of quality saw ex-Barton captain Wilson curl in a beautiful left-footed cross with pace for Tommy Malins to head home.

More of the same followed with Barton finding it difficult to break out of their own half as the inevitable second arrived seven minutes later when Ryan Ingrey deflected Jo De La Salle’s half-volley beyond Richard Wilmot’s outstretched hand.

Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time referee Rob Smith awarded the softest of penalties as Royston’s Ross Collins collapsed on the sticky and uneven pitch and Jack Bradshaw drilled a fine penalty into the roof of the net.

Crows: Howard, Bradshaw, Wilson, De La Salle, McDevitt, Edwards, Malins, Collins, Fehmi, Ingrey, Robins. Substitutes: Endacott, Parr, Spencer, Lockett, Standen

Rovers: Wilmott, Hoeness, Maltay, Hull, Andrews, Blackwood, Smeaton, Bent, Hall, Dance, MaNamara. Substitutes: Hassan, James, Edgerley, Kierans, Pring.