Pitching In Southern League Premier Central
Saturday 14th February 2026
Harborough Town 2-1 Royston Town
Hickey (50′), O’Sullivan (52′); Shamalo (2)
Player of the Match – Riley O’Sullivan
Attendance – 587
Report – Ben Monti
Photo – Joe Barthorpe
Harborough Town survived an early scare to come back and win 2-1 at home to bottom of the table Royston Town, courtesy of a Brady Hickey and Riley O’Sullivan quickfire double.
The Bees entered the game as strong favourites; however, having had their previous three fixtures cancelled due to weather conditions, gaffer Mitch Austin stated post-match that he felt a level of apprehension: “I was worried about how we would be after the three cancelled games”. Perhaps, he was right to do so as the hosts looked uncharacteristically complacent in possession.
Harborough’s rustiness became evident very early on as the Crows quickly silenced the home crowd by scoring in the second minute. Devon Kelly-Evans, under no pressure, played a loose pass which allowed Thomas Avgoustidis to gain possession, drive forward and get a shot away, forcing Elliot Taylor to palm the ball into the path of John Shamalo, who showed composure to slot home. The Royston duo posed a real threat on the break and could have further stunned the Beehive, potentially doubling their lead, when the powerful Shamalo shrugged off his marker, slid in Avgoustidis, who took one touch too many, but managed to return the ball to Shamalo, who drilled inches past the upright.
In a fairly uninspiring first half, Harborough largely controlled possession but lacked quality in the final third, with the Crows looking relatively comfortable in defense. Their skipper, Adam Murray, dealt with everything that came his way. The hosts’ best chances of the half came when David Kamara fired over following solid build-up play involving Kelly-Evans and Brady Hickey, while Ben Stephens also went close with a free-kick that flew just over. Despite going into half-time a goal up, the visitors were dealt a hammer blow five minutes before the interval when lively winger Avgoustidis limped off holding his hamstring.
Harborough re-entered the fray, a completely different side. Mitch Austin’s team talk at the break had an immediate effect, galvanising the Bees who came out in the second half playing at a much higher tempo and with far greater intent. The Harborough Boss was reluctant to take credit after the game, instead opting to highlight the players’ contribution to the uplift in performance: “Full credit to the boys, nothing to do with me, just them showing a lot more desire and a good five minutes of quality”.
The equaliser came on 50 minutes when Hickey reacted quickest in the box to stab home from a George Carline header. Carline initially thought he’d scored from an Eliot Putman inswinging corner; however, Louis Chadwick, between the Royston sticks, pulled off an incredible save to deny the full-back. Chadwick’s palmed clearance only reached as far as the towering Alex Morris, who nodded back towards Carline, who glanced across goal for Hickey to level the tie.
Just ninety seconds later, Kamara burst down the right and floated a tantalising cross into the box, allowing Riley O’Sullivan, unmarked, to head back across goal and into the net, making it 2-1. A tangible sigh of relief rang around the Beehive, as everyone involved with the home side knew the importance of bagging three points and keeping hot on the heels of table toppers Spalding. Austin praised his forward, who has now scored in three games on the spin, “You can always rely on Riley, he has a different edge, I’m delighted for him”.
Despite not being at their best, the Bees showed their superiority throughout to see out the remainder of the game, although Royston could have levelled after a lapse in concentration from Taylor, with Liam Dolman forced to make a goal-line clearance before keeper Chadwick came up for a last-minute corner, blasting over the bar.
The gap at the top remains four points as attention now turns to Stratford Town away next Saturday before Harborough return to the Beehive a week later, capping off February with a home tie against Barwell on the 28th.