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 yesterday afternoon thanks to a 2-1 defeat to top flight side Royston Town.

The Lilywhites were confronted right from the start of the game with the visitors scoring two goals in the first eleven minutes of the first round.

But the hosts rallied and managed to halve the deficit before half-time thanks to former Cambridge United and Chelsea youngster Marcel Lewis.

Cambridge City midfielder Alex Warman received a red card in the second half. Image: Richard Marsham

But any hopes of City improving the score dimmed in the second half after midfielder Alex Warman was sent off in the 69th minute for two bookable offences.

“The game was pretty even overall, there wasn’t much in it,” said City coach Jamie Cureton.

“Actually, our start was okay, we felt pretty good, but before we knew it we were already two goals behind.

“It is our own work. I never think a team has done well for us, been better and created chances to score goals. We seem to be giving teams goals. There always seems to be something we are to blame for and could have done better.

“We’re 2-0 down after 11 minutes and they didn’t have to do anything too big to be in this position.

“Then you’re wondering how we should respond to this? We haven’t been 2-0 down all season. Will we collapse and truly collapse? Or will we react?

“After 25 minutes of the first half, I had the feeling that we were on top, that we were doing well and that we were comfortable. We scored another really good goal, that’s the story of our season. We seem to score good goals and concede bad goals.

“We wanted to continue as we were doing (in the second half) and the chances would come. But then Al gets sent off for a disagreement, and no matter how good you are or how well you play, it’s difficult to play with 10 men when you’re losing because the opponent doesn’t have to force the ball.

“I still felt like we were OK and they didn’t create much. You just hope something happens, but we just couldn’t take advantage of that one opportunity.”

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