Late Taylor goal earns Stratford Town a point at Royston

STRATFORD Town and Royston shared the points in an absorbing 2-2 draw at the Garden Walk Stadium on Saturday, writes Bryan Hale.

Stratford’s starting line-up showed four changes from the Stourbridge game.

Nathan Vaughan returned in goal, while elsewhere Callum Powell, Edwin Ahenkorah and Kynan Isaac were replaced by Jordan Williams, Nabil Sheriff and Claudio Dias.

After their chastening experiences in midweek when Stratford lost 3-0 at Stourbridge and Royston were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline at home to Leiston, both sides made an understandably cautious start.

Shariff, on his debut after impressing in the pre-season friendlies before picking up an injury, was the first to threaten in the 16th minute with a low drive which flew narrowly wide, and they went even closer four minutes later.

Wilson Carvalho’s cross from the left was headed behind by Dan Brathwaite and when Will Grocott floated the ball into the penalty area, Williams’ header was nervously grabbed right on the line by keeper Will Appleyard.

Stratford were having most of the meaningful possession, but when they took the lead on 39 minutes it was down to a piece of individual brilliance from Brad Maslen-Jones.

Seizing on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, he curled an exquisite curling effort beyond Appleyard’s left hand into the top corner.

Royston then turned the game round with two goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half.

In the 50th minute, Vance Bola skipped past Kieren Westwood on the right touchline to whip in a low cross which was turned in at close range by James Potton, and six minutes later Martel Powell threaded the ball through to Chris Assombalonga, who slotted in unerringly past the advancing Vaughan.

But Stratford hit back to rescue a point eight minutes from time when substitute Mike Taylor headed in Grocott’s cross from the right.