Cambridge City concede two early goals during FA Trophy defeat to higher-league Royston Town

Cambridge City’s best run in the FA Trophy since the 2008/09 season came to an end thanks to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of higher-league Royston Town yesterday afternoon.

The Lilywhites found themselves up against it early on in proceedings as the visitors scored twice inside the opening 11 minutes of the first round tie.

However, the hosts rallied and managed to half the deficit before the break through former Cambridge United and Chelsea academy player Marcel Lewis.

But any hopes of City levelling up the scoring deteriorated during the second half following the dismissal of midfielder Alex Warman in the 69th minute for two bookable offences.

“The game overall was fairly even, there wasn’t a lot in it,” said City boss Jamie Cureton.

“Our start was actually ok, we felt quite comfortable, but then before we know it we’re two goals down.

“It’s our own doing. I never seem to think that a team has done us, been better and created the chances to score goals. We seem to be giving teams goals. There always seema to be something we’re at fault for, that we could have done better at.

“You look after 11 minutes, we’re 2-0 down and they haven’t had to do anything too great to be in that position.

“Then you are there thinking how are we going to react to this? We haven’t been 2-0 down all season. Are we going to cave in and really crumble? Or are we going to react?

“I felt after 25 minutes of the first half we were on top, we were fine and comfortable. We scored another really good goal, which is the story of our season. We seem to score good goals and concede rubbish ones.

“We wanted to keep doing what we were doing (in the second half) and the chances would come. But then Al gets sent off for dissent and no matter how good you are or how well you’re playing, playing with 10 men when you’re losing is tough because the opposition don’t have to force the ball.

“I still felt we were ok and they didn’t create much. You’re just hoping something will drop but we just couldn’t seem to get that one opportunity.”

City return to action in the Isthmian League North Division next Sunday (3 November) when Bury Town visit St Ives.