Boro 2 Royston Town 2

Scott Bridges scored a injury time free-kick for Royston Town to steal a point against Nuneaton Borough.

Bridges free kick sparked scenes in the away dugout, after the visitors spent the majority of the contest chasing the game.

Mitchell Candlin put Boro ahead after three minutes before Matt Bateman equalised a couple of minutes later.

The home side re-took the lead before the break when Callum Powell produced a replica to his Lowestoft Town goal, but despite denying the visitors a way back into the game, debutant Tony Breeden could not stop Bridges’s free kick eventually giving Royston a share of the spoils.

The contest got off to the best of starts for Jimmy Ginnelly’s side, when Candlin scored on his return from injury. The young forward beat the Royston defender to Powell’s cross to beat Joe Welch.

Only two minutes later, the game was level. Breeden originally denied Bridges with a smart low save, but Bateman tucked away the rebound to draw Steve Castle’s side level.

The game continued to go against the home side, when Luke Benbow was forced to come off after going down injured. However, Powell was pushed further forward and put Boro ahead with a neat effort to continue his fine form.

Jack Byrne, who replaced Benbow, did grab his first Nuneaton goal five minutes later. Only for referee, Liam Corbett, to rule out the midfielder’s effort for offside. Powell and Devon Kelly-Evans both had key chances to add to the lead but were unable to direct their efforts on target.

The second half lacked the same intensity as the first, with both sides struggling to test either keeper. However, the goal finally came for the away side in the 94th minute when Bridges fired his free-kick past Breeden to maintain their 3-game unbeaten run.

Next up for Nuneaton, is the trip to Daventry Town on Tuesday night in the Southern League Cup.

Team: Breeden, Towers, Clifton, Stanley, Kettle, Osbourne, Powell, Julien, Benbow, Kelly-Evans, Candlin.

Subs: Byrne, T.Belford, Wassell, Verma.

Attendance: 515