Thurlow Nunn ECL Premier Division
Tuesday 22nd August 2017
Histon kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a 3-1 victory over Long Melford last night at The Glassworld Stadium.
Manager Lance Key again had to change his starting line up, with Will Lawton and Joe Sutton returning to the starting XI whilst striker Matthew Hayden, newly signed from Lakenheath made his debut up front.
James Carman was the first to get a sighting on goal but his early effort was blocked before Lee Smith sent a free kick in from the right but Brendan Lees’ header was high.
The visitors put a nice move together after quarter of an hour which brought a free kick in a central position 25 yards out. Scott Sloots’ shot had Ayden Duffy scrambling to his right but it was always wide and remained 0-0.
Lees tried his luck again with a fierce drive from distance that was tipped over by Darren Moyes in the Melford goal whilst for the visitors, Luke Payne’s effort from miles out was not far off target.
Just before the break Sheldon Weinman made good ground down the right and his cross shot was well parried by Moyes and Carman following up was thwarted by an excellent block. Melford broke quickly and Duffy needed to be alert to block at the other end.
The first half had seen plenty of endeavour from both sides but a lack of real quality in the final third meant it was still 0-0 at the break.
Long Melford went ahead early in the second half when Hassan Ally, the visitors’ biggest threat all evening, got into the penalty area where he was brought down by Dany Gould and Josh Hodgson made no mistake from the spot.
Histon tried to respond, Hayden’s snap shot bringing a save from Moyes and Key’s glancing header from Joe Sutton’s cross not far off the mark but it wasn’t until the 68th minute that Histon levelled. Joe Sutton picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled a lovely effort high into the corner beyond Moyes.
Joe Sutton levels it up at 1-1.
Danny Gould was becoming more and more of a threat as the game went on and on 77 minutes his pace had the visiting defence scrambling when he chased down a ball he had no right to get to. Moving the ball on to his right foot Gould sent over an inviting ball that alas eluded everyone and was cleared.
As time was running out it looked like the game would end in a draw but with five minutes left Histon got the breakthrough. Gould’s ball over the top found Tommy Wright who was brought down in the area. Evan Key took the spot kick and made no mistake.
Evan Key’s penalty makes it 2-1.
Melford threw bodies forward and a corner from the left caused problems with three minutes to go. The ball was unconvincingly cleared but from there Gould wrapped the game up, picking up the ball on the half way line before accelerating past his defender and sending an angled drive high across Moyes into the far corner. A cracking goal to round off a good night for the Stutes.
Danny Gould makes it 3-1.
A busy Bank Holiday weekend lies ahead with a visit to Wivenhoe Town on Saturday before we welcome Godmanchester Rovers to The Glassworld on Monday afternoon, 3:00pm kick off.
Histon: Ayden Duffy, Sheldon Weinman, Will Lawton, Lee Smith (Charlie Brown 31), Brendan Lees, Pat Bexfield, James Carman (Ed Rolph 62), Evan Key, Matthew Hayden (Tommy Wright 69, Joe Sutton, Danny Gould
Histon subs not used: Shaun Jenkins, Taher Ali.
Histon yellow cards: None.
Histon goal scorers: Joe Sutton (68), Even Key (85 pen), Danny Gould (87).
Long Melford: Darren Moyes, Callum Hemson, Dan Shaw, Eliott Walker, Ross Waugh, Hassan Ally, Scot Sloots, Josh Hodgson, Luke Payne (Stuart Malseed 69), Matthew Rowe.
Long Melford subs not used: Ben Judge, Will Wingfield, Jamie Bradbury, David Leader.
Long Melford yellow cards: None.
Long Melford goal scorer: Josh Hodgson (53 pen).
Attendance: tbc
