Stevenage's women became pathfinders for their male colleagues by moving to the top of the table.

Saturday saw Boro's men beat Leyton Orient 3-0 to move within two points of the summit of League Two with a game in hand.

Some 24 hours later the women's team showed them the way with a 4-2 home win over Royston Town, putting them on top of the Eastern Region Premier Division.

The Comet: Stevenage's women went top of the league with a win over Royston Town. Picture: ED PAYNEStevenage's women went top of the league with a win over Royston Town. Picture: ED PAYNE (Image: Ed Payne)

Boss Fadi Mazloum wanted a fast start to unsettle Royston and take advantage of their lack of game time, the Crows having only played five league games prior to kick-off.

A goal inside the opening 10 minutes certainly did that.

A fabulous corner from Hannah Nebbitt was headed down by Erin Price and cleared off the line but only as far as Amy Makewell who fired home.

She almost had a second moments later but after going round Amy Martin, her effort rebounded off the post.

It was only a brief let-off though for Royston and after some fine work down the right, Jodie Bellinger's cross was deflected in by Emily Schofield.

That's how it remained until half-time but words from Royston coach Lewis Endacott saw the visitors come out with purpose.

And it took just four minutes for them to halve the deficit.

Riana Badal cut inside onto her right foot on the edge of the area and sent a powerful shot goalwards that Mia O’Brien got a hand to but couldn’t keep out of the net.

Tactical tweaks and a bit of magic from Shianne Swarres not only prevented the comeback from gathering speed but also restored the two-goal cushion.

She picked it up about 25 yards out and after stepping forward, unleashed a thumping drive that Martin could not get near to.

Price became the second Stevenage player to hit a post, this one from a header, but just before she was about to be replaced, she got on the end of an in-swinging corner from Hannah Nebbitt and this time made no mistake.

Royston were able to grab the initiative again in the closing stages and after Bellinger lost out in a challenge, Becky Charter pushed forward before sending a looping shot beyond O’Brien.

But there was to be no more with Stevenage confirmed as becoming the new table toppers on the final whistle.

They have played more games than their rivals, three ahead of Luton Town who are a point behind, and two more than AFC Sudbury who are two points adrift.

The feeling from the Boro camp though was that this was the standard they must maintain over the rest of the year.

Schofield said: "We looked like a wholly different team. We moved the ball fast, got it up the pitch and created opportunities.

"And we were more clinical than the last time we played them."