Royston Town beaten in the FA Trophy but ladies win big

They lost 1-0 at home to National League North Rushall Olympic but that only tells half the story.

Former Wolves and Wrexham striker, Liam McAlinden, put the Walsall-based side ahead on 34 minutes and it proved to be enough.

Royston did hit the crossbar before half-time through an Adam Murray header but their hopes seemed to have crumbled when they were reduced to 10 men, goalkeeper Tommy Dixon-Hodges sent off for handball outside the area.

Charlie Johnson, playing in his last game for the club after accepting a seven-day approach, went between the sticks and yet it was still the Crows who went the closest, twice hitting the bar again although this time in the space of two seconds in stoppage time.

There was still a twist in the tail though as Royston were awarded a penalty.

However, James Brighton sent the spot-kick flying over the bar to leave Crows beaten and out.

The reserves also lost on Saturday, going down 3-2 to Wellingborough Whitworth in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One Cup quarter-final.

Joel McCormack and Jack Davies were Royston’s goal scorers.

Emma Slater scored on her 100th appearance for Royston Town against St Albans City. Picture: JAMES SIMPKINS (Image: James Simpkins)

There was one cup success to celebrate as the ladies advanced to a semi-final clash with Colney Heath in the Herts Women’s Senior Challenge Cup.

The holders beat Eastern Region Premier Division rivals St Albans City 6-1 away at Clarence Park and found themselves 3-0 up at the break.

The first came after a run down the wing from Emma Slater.

Her initial shot was parried by the keeper but the rebound fell into the path of the unmarked Laura Mills and she tapped it in.

Charlotte South and Riana Badal were heavily involved in goal number two, South's clever flick and Badal's pass providing the opportunity for Frankie Pim to score, and Pim then got her second and Royston's third

Slater always seemed destined to score on what was her 100th game for the club and she duly did so early in the second half with a very good chip.

Mel Hall did pull one back for the Saints but the damage was already done.

And to twist the knife further, Royston restored their four-goal lead a few minutes later, Erin Davies scoring an absolute beauty, before they wrapped things up when a Mills corner found the net, nobody really clear if it went straight in or off a defender.

IT was the perfect preparation for their next game, a trip to Fulham in the second round of the Women's FA Cup.

A supporters' coach is departing King James Town Hall car park at 11:30am, details are available on social media.

Royston Town Vets also got a 3-2 win in the Herts Vets Championship League Cup group stage, beating Sandridge Rovers.

A brace from George Kew and a penalty from Lee Wilkinson keep their hopes or reaching the knockout stage alive.