Unbeaten

Both teams arrived at this match praying not to lose. For Luton a defeat would deal their survival hopes a heavy blow, whilst a defeat for Royston would turn their comfy mid-table spot into a jittery edge of survival spot. Luton Town won away to Royston for the first time in 4 years as the men's 3s and were hoping to make their 3rd victory in a row against the Blacks.

Town had made it difficult for themselves right from the off, absorbing Royston pressure right from the off before conceding the opener within the first 3 minutes, when Royston worked the ball around the Luton defence before powerfully hitting home from a tight angle. The visitors extended their lead a few minutes later when charging Keeper Thomas Briggs was left in no mans land behind his Defence and Zain Kazmi could do nothing to stop the ball being struck into the empty goal.

Under threat of a total rout in a must win game, the home side needed something to change, and that something was the deployment of John Hathaway into a more defensive position. With him now protecting the back four whilst still able to supply Luton's attack , the home side begun to take form. A smart counter attack let Robin Barnes set up Chris May who could only fire his effort into the side of the goal, whilst returning Bradley Jackson swung wide from close range.

The first goal that Luton pulled back had the essence of both of Royston's goals put together as first William King lured the goalkeeper up and around the edge of the D before Skipper Dean Pierce hammered into the empty goal from an angle equally as tight as the first. And a rejuvenated Luton had equalised when William King capitalised from a long ball into the D by John Hathaway. There might have been more joy for Luton in the first half with Kings Short Corner Drag Flick being saved by the experienced keeper.

Half Time Score Luton Town 2-2 Royston

Luton had been the side with the momentum at the end of the first half, but it was Royston who blasted out of the blocks straight from the push back with a strong midfielder driving the ball through Luton's midfield, only to be stopped by a foul in the penalty area by Harpreet Uppal. From this Royston scored with the rather soft Drag-Flick skimming past Zain Kazmi before bouncing past the unsighted goalkeeper Thomas Briggs.

Luton may have been disappointed but they had now become clearly the better team, with the fine combination on Nathan McNeil and George ball down the right hand side proving most troublesome for Royston, Twice winning Short Corners, with Kings second drag flick saved before Dean Pierce hammered into the side of the goal, destroying a water bottle but not the integrity of Royston's Lead. George ball did excellently to control and Juggle a bouncing ball before setting up an opportunity for Bradley Jackson who's shot was deflected back for him to have another go. The second effort was tame but the third won another Short Corner, with Robin Barnes shot flying Wide.

At this point Luton lost Zain Kazmi to a hamstring injury, and the re-shuffle nearly caught out the home side, with the youngest player on the pitch firing into what had been an empty goal. And there was more panic for Luton when a hot was squeezed through the keeper but mercifully squeezed off the line by new boy John Paterson. George ball hit the ball powerfully down the line to Nathan McNeil, and a fast acting Luton filled the penalty area with players and with Royston unable to clear the ball, William King netted his 17th of the season after a scramble.

Luton continued in the ascendancy with strong tackles by John Hathaway and Harpreet Uppal stopped Royston Counter attacks and Luton met the Full Time whistle with a short corner. The final play of the game saw a fine injection by George Ball dragged onto the post by William King, but with 10 red players around the D Royston couldn't clear and conceded another Short Corner whichwas saved by the Keeper, squirming past Dean Pierce, with Harpreet Uppal firing wide to end the game.

Luton Town 3-3 Royston
Luton Goal scorers: Dean Pierce, William King x2
LTHC Player of the Match: John Hathaway