Evo-Stick Southern 1 Central
Saturday 18th March 2017
Max York’s powerful first half header and Jake Chambers-Shaw’s second half penalty sealed an important 3 points at third placed Marlow yesterday as we kept alive our chances of survival.
Simon Unwin returned to the starting lineup after suspension for Pat Bexfield who injured his knee in the warm up, whilst Ben Yeomans was also back from suspension and was amongst the subs. Lewis Clayton made his first start since early December and Lee Smith was again deployed at the back as part of a three man defence.
Both sides started the game brightly and both were looking to get forward but neither were able to fashion any real opportunities to open the scoring. With around 20 minutes gone though we won a number of corners and from one of these, delivered by Jake Chambers-Shaw, skipper Max York rose highest to thunder a header home and give us the lead.
Marlow looked for an equaliser but Histon were resolute, defending well and keeping the home side at bay although Kamaron English and Chid Onokwai always looked a threat for the Blues.
Matty Allan, not unusually, was on the receiving end of some robust defending and just over half an hour in raced on to a through ball but Marlow stopper Simon Grant had other ideas and the two clattered into each other on the edge of the box. Stutes supporters feared the worst after the collision but needn’t have worried as Allan was up quickly and it was Grant who, eventually, needed treatment
1-0 at the break with Histon narrowly ahead.
The Blues came out looking to level things up quickly but despite their speedy attacks still couldn’t find a way to test Ayden Duffy in the Histon goal.
With 54 minutes on the clock Tommy Wright cut in from the left and curled a shot towards the far post from the edge of the area. Grant got down well to parry but Allan was following in to nip the ball away from him and Grant brought him down. Penalty. Allan stepped forward to take it but lifted his effort over the bar.
Any fears that this missed opportunity might galvanise the home side were soon quashed though as we went back on the offensive immediately. A ball into the box was handled by a Blues defender and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot again, just two minutes later.
Chambers-Shaw took over penalty taking duties this time and rolled his shot into the bottom right corner, sending Grant the wrong way and doubling the lead.
The home side immediately made changes to their team as they looked to respond but Histon weren’t done yet. Duffy’s long kick sent Allan away but, under pressure from defenders, he lifted his shot over Grant and just over the bar.
Marlow did finally start to find a bit a rhythm going forward and substitute Isaac Osei-Tutu found himself with time and space inside the Histon penalty area but he blazed his shot high over the bar when well placed. Soon after and Adam Richards flashed a glancing header just past the far post but that was about as good as it got for the home side as Histon weathered any further attempts at a home comeback and settled back into their own rhythm. Lewis Clayton forced Grant to save well low to his left with ten minutes to go but as the clock ticked down and Allan flashed a left footed strike past the far post but neither side really came close to adding to the score and Histon saw the game out for a vital three points.
Aylesbury visit the Glassworld Stadium next Saturday in another big game for us. We all know that only wins will do now if we are to avoid the drop but yesterday’s result and strong performance keeps hopes alive and confidence growing.
Histon: Ayden Duffy, Danny Gould, Cameron Watson, Simon Unwin, Max York, Lee Smith, Matty Allan, Lewis Clayton (James Carman 87), Tommy Wright (Ben Yeomans 87), Jake Chambers-Shaw (Jabari Hylton 72), Elkanah Sibanda.
Histon subs not used: Joe Carden, Pat Bexfield.
Histon yellow cards: None.
Histon Goal Scorers: Max York (21), Jake Chambers-Shaw (57 pen).
Marlow: Simon Grant, Sam Bangura, Max Kilman, Nathan Poulton (Marcus Mealing 69), Dan Hicks, Adam Richards, Jay Welch (Junaid Bell 58), Chris Ovenden, Chid Onokwai, Charlie Barton (Isaac Osei-Tutu 58), Kamaron English.
Marlow subs not used: Joel Driscoll, Jon Bennett.
Marlow yellow cards: Nathan Poulton, Simon Grant, Dan Hicks.
Marlow Goal Scorers: None.
Attendance: 117
