- Royston Town have won only one of their last five league matches (D1, L3).
- Stamford have lost only one of their last five league fixtures (W3, D1).
- Stamford have won two of the last five head-to-heads with Royston Town (D2, L1).
Stamford’s structure and shape should see off fragile hosts
There is an all-important clash at the bottom of the Southern League Premier Division Central on Saturday when Stamford head to Garden Walk to face a struggling Royston Town.
The hosts are on a losing streak and have been picking up results at a lower rate than even their usual poor record suggests of late. Town have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five league games, a sequence that has seen Steve Castle’s men slip to 21st spot with only 25 points from 40 games.
Stamford are the narrow favourites to win this one at 47/50, which seems about right considering the form and positions of the two sides. Rovers are 17th with 43 points from 40 fixtures, but are in much better form than their opponents with three wins, one draw and just one defeat from their last five.
Castle’s side can be crafty and capable in the air
Stamford are worthy of support to repeat their 2-0 home victory from four months ago when these sides last met in the league, although it is likely to be a close-run contest.
Graham Dury has done a fantastic job, instilling a disciplined and shape-based style of play that has served Stamford well in both attacking and defending terms.
Dury has successfully integrated some young players into his side, who show a willingness to get the ball down and play, but are also patient and can sit deep when they need to.
They also know when to press opponents, although their general approach is to control the pace with a structured attack that creates wide options and plays with a numerical advantage.
Royston will line up in a 4-4-2 for Saturday’s game and will look to put big men up against big men in the hope of getting their share of second balls. Castle’s pragmatic approach is built around being able to adapt to the game’s flow and, with some physical players at his disposal, Royston can be a tough team to beat.
Rovers are better than the bookies think
However, the hosts are conceding 2.00 goals per game at home on average in the league while scoring a measly 1.05 per fixture. Stamford’s problem on the road is that they score even fewer - averaging 0.65 goals per away trip and managing only 13 on their travels all season. So Stamford look like a good play at 47/50 to get the better of the home side.
An away win is by no means a certainty as Stamford have drawn one and lost one of their last two away games, and they are still seeking a breakthrough win on the road. A close win for Stamford looks the best angle for this contest given the low scoring nature of both sides, but there is enough in the game for both to push the over 2.5 goals market at 19/25.
