Joint manager Chris Watters reckons he may have "urinated in someone's Weetabix" as bad luck continues to dog Royston Town

The Crows were already without three long-term injury victims and then had another three ruled out in the week prior to the FA Cup tie at home with Hemel Hempstead Town.

To make things even worse, Ronnie Henry went down injured as Hemel took a third-minute lead, the National League South side eventually going on to win 3-1.

Watters explained how tough the preparations had been.

Royston Crow: Josh Coldicott-Stevens (right) scored his first Royston goal since signing from Hitchin. Picture: PETER ELSEJosh Coldicott-Stevens (right) scored his first Royston goal since signing from Hitchin. Picture: PETER ELSE (Image: Peter Else)

He said: "It's been a tough week behind the scenes. We lost Dequane Wilson-Brithwaite to concussion, we lost James Brighton to a knee injury and then got a message on Wednesday morning from Adam Murray to say he had COVID and he was bad with it.

"All three are defenders.

"I knew Ronnie was struggling but he felt he'd be alright for the best part of the game.

"Unfortunately that was taken out of our hands early and I'd love to know what it would have been like had we been able to go toe to toe with them.

"I'm devastated [at going out] but I am so proud of the boys, considering the task they were given.

"We just asked them to keep running and even at 3-0 down, they never stopped and they never quit.

"We talked about being better in both boxes and we weren't quite clinical enough.

"We needed the boys up top to have a good game.

"We had square pegs in round holes and against a team with Hemel's quality, it doesn't necessarily work.

"We needed some luck and we didn't get it. I feel like I've urinated in someone's Weetabix but there's nothing we can do, we just have to dust ourselves off.

"But I'm proud of the efforts all over the park. We'll nit-pick ahead of going to Nuneaton next week. We need the rest this week but we will be ready."

Kyle Ajayi had got the third minute goal with a header and Montel McKenzie scored number two on the counter.

He got his second on 34 minutes but Royston were able to pull one back on the stroke of half-time, Josh Coldicott-Stevens with his first goal since moving from Hitchin in the summer.