Late play-off chase will play into our hands

John Frendo believes crashing the play-offs party late will count in Royston Town’s favour if they make the Southern Premier’s end of season lottery.

The Crows have been creeping up slowly on the top five and Tuesday night’s derby win over St Neots put them up to sixth and within a point of fifth-placed Tiverton, with games in hand.

All of which is familiar territory for Frendo, who was part of the St Albans side which arrived late in the 2013-14 play-offs before winning them, with the striker bagging two goals in the final.

“We got into the play-offs with a run at the last minute back then, and hopefully we can do that again and take the momentum into the play-offs,” he said.

“Sometimes that’s the better way to do it. We’ve just got to get there now, and if we do, I have every confidence we can win it.

“The crowd are starting to believe we can go up as well now, and if you look at the bench and the players who aren’t even involved, this is the most talented squad I’ve been in without a doubt.”

In a career which has seen him score almost 400 non-league goals (a few stats are missing from his spells at Harlow and Cheshunt), Frendo has netted more than his fair share of worldies.

However, his opener in the win over St Neots – a half volley from the edge of the area which flew into the top corner – will take its place in his favourites list.

“It’s got to be up there to be fair, it was a good one,” he said. “It was the first thing in my mind, the first touch set it up so I had to take it.

“Now and again I have a little look at the stats, one in two is what I aim for. I’m not sure what my career total is but it’s got to be high 300s, I will have a look actually and find that one out.”

Such is Frendo’s influence on the Crows side that manager Steve Castle last year labelled him Royston’s Teddy Sheringham. But it’s another Premier League star of the 90s that the striker models himself on.

He added: “I got a bit of stick for the Teddy thing. I’d say I’m more Bergkamp than Teddy as I’m an Arsenal supporter.”

Source Cambridge News