Basford United’s Southern Premier League season got off to a disappointing start on Saturday as they lost 3-1 away at Royston Town, despite dominating large spells of the game and a debut strike from Josh Barnes.

Goals from Jared Robson and Matt Bateman inside the first 20 minutes threatened a romp for the home side, but a goal from Barnes not long after saw Basford take control of the game.

Despite enjoying the majority of the opportunities throughout, Basford couldn’t make any of them count, and a 90th minute strike from Nathan Tshikuna sealed the deal for Town.

It was the home side who looked dangerous early on, with Robson almost scoring just minutes into the contest, but his bullet header from close range was excellently kept out by Kieran Preston’s feet.

Bateman then tried his luck from distance shortly after, but his effort sailed wide of target.

Minutes later and Royston found their opener when Bateman headed the ball across the face of the goal for Robson to nod home from close-range at the far post.

The home side continued and doubled their tally in the 17th minute when a misplaced Basford back-pass saw Bateman through on goal and he rounded Preston, passing the ball into an open goal.

Royston’s two-goal advantage seemed to wake the Ambers up, though, and they pulled one back just four minutes later after a wonderful cross into the area from captain Thornhill was superbly headed home by debutant Barnes.

With that, momentum quickly changed, and Basford conjured up a number of opportunities throughout the rest of the first half. Starkie’s effort from long-range found the target but was comfortably saved by Dimitris Kyriatzis.

It was more of the same for Basford during a frustrating second-half, as they fought tooth and nail in search of an equaliser with several half-chances.

Barnes was first up trying his luck from a tight angle, but his shot flew over the bar, before in-form striker Anthony Dwyer chancing his luck with two efforts on goal, one from long-range and one from just inside the area - both were hit straight at the stubbon Kyriatzis in the Royston goal.

Completely against the run of play and with United chasing a deserved point, Royston killed the game off in the 90th when Tshikuna fired home, securing the three points an opening day win for the Hertfordshire-based side.

UNITED: Preston; Roma, Tait, Bertram, McGowan, Chapman (Dunn 80’), Starkie (Grantham 74’), Thornhill (c), Smith (Palmer 60’), Dwyer, Barnes
SUBS (not used): Clark, Musson (GK)

ATT: 284 [31 away]