The points were shared in a thrilling encounter at Garden Walk as Royston Town and Leverstock Green drew 3-3 in Tuesday night's SSML Premier Division game. Leverstock came into the game on the back of Saturday's heartbreaking last-gasp defeat at Colney Heath, but showed no hangover from that as they once again showed themselves to be a match for any side in this division.

This was a game full of attacking play from both sides, although it could hardly be described as a masterclass in defending. The Green found themselves a goal down in the 9th minute in unfortunate fashion. Craig Preston swung at the ball to clear from just outside his own box, but sliced it back towards goal, leaving Jack Bradshaw through to shoot past Carl Tasker and open the scoring for Royston.

Their lead lasted less than a minute though. Lewis Pritchard played a one-two with Louis Austin near the right touchline before launching a fantastic shot from 35 yards which flew high but dipped under the crossbar, out of the reach of keeper Luke Howard for a spectacular Leverstock equaliser.

In the 27th minute a Lee Bircham corner was headed clear to the edge of the box where Charlie Gorman returned it with a fierce shot that went just wide. However, seconds later the ball was at the other end, and Bill Morgan gave the ball away to Ricky Young, who got to the byeline and squared across goal where Glen Lamacraft came in for a simple tap-in to put Royston back into the lead at 2-1.

The Green defence continued to look shaky, as Carl Tasker had to save with his legs to deny Young on 35 minutes, and Lewis Endacott shot over the bar when clean through a minute later. Between those two chances Green were denied a good shout for a penalty when Austin was downed by a tackle from behind in the box. However, on 38 minutes a Bircham corner found Austin on the edge of the box. His first shot was blocked, but the ball came back to him, and Austin's second effort flew past Howard to level the scores again and send the game into the break nicely poised at 2-2.

There was a let-off for Leverstock in the 48th minute. Tasker did well to save a shot, but a follow-up header from close range hit the bar. Lamacraft headed home the second rebound but was flagged for offside. Both sides had a series of corners early in the second half but couldn't put the ball in the net.

Midway through the half Adam Hallissey made a welcome return after a lengthy injury absence as he came off the bench to replace Jon Davies. On 68 minutes Tasker saved Green again as he came off best in a one-on-one with Lamacraft.

The game could have gone either way from this point, and it swung in Green's favour next. On 77 minutes Hallissey was fouled by the left touchline. Bircham swung over one of many excellent crosses on the night, Louis West headed the ball across goal, and Preston headed home from close range to put Leverstock in front for the first time at 3-2.

Royston made a double substitution with ten minutes left, and in the 82nd minute a corner found the unmarked Martin Standen, whose shot went through a crowd of players and past Tasker to bring the score back to 3-3.

There was no let-up in the action over the closing minutes. In the 89th minute Austin had two efforts from a Dan Griggs cross, the second had to be cleared off the line by a defender. In stoppage time the Green defence somehow held out under intense pressure. Tasker made two great saves, Lamacraft headed against the bar, and Rhys Lawrence hit the bar with a shot. In the end the draw was a fair result from a hugely entertaining game.