Saturday August 12th 2023

United Counties League, Premier Division South

HISTON 1 GNG Oadby Town 3

The Stutes lose at home to Oadby Town, despite taking the lead in the first half through Ed Rolph.

Histon saw a lot of the ball in the first half and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 11th minute, as a Charlie Tunnell cross was inches from the head of Connor Barnes at the back post, who looked almost certain to be able to nod the ball in, if he could connect with it.

Histon’s possession was converted into a goal in the 43rd minute after Luke Lindsay managed to retain the ball that was played into him inside the penalty area and flicked into the path of Ed Rolph, who lashed it into the far corner on his return to the side.

Less than a minute later, the score was levelled through a lapse in concentration at the back, which gave Mussa Bham the opportunity to slot the ball past Sam Roach as he found himself through on goal.

After the interval, Oadby Town came out fighting and subsequently took the lead in the 55th minute. Zaakir Bham was on hand in the penalty area to knock the ball into the bottom corner of the net, after it rebounded to him during a scramble inside our box.

The Stutes began to play a more direct style as the ball found it’s way often into the Oadby penalty area, often through a long ball. Histon came close on a few occasions this way, most notably a long throw into the penalty area by Max York, which found the head of Ed Rolph, who glanced a header just shy of the post in the 61st minute.

Histon later began to look out of ideas as they were put to the sword by Oadby Town, who found their third in the 81st minute. A pass in behind Histon’s defence allowed Jay Bruce the opportunity to scramble the ball past Roach and then beat the recovering Sam Collison on the goal line.

A chance to reduce the score line in the remaining seconds saw an Ed Rolph header tipped onto the woodwork by the keeper after a scramble in the visitors penalty area.

Despite a strong first half, the Stutes were unable to bounce back, as Oadby claimed their second win of the season, whereas Histon continue to search for that elusive first victory.

Histon line-up: Sam Roach, Pat Bexfield, Rob Ruddy, Ryan Towner, Max York, Ollie Brooke, Ed Rolph, Harvey Bullinaria, Connor Barnes, Dexter Todd, Charlie Tunnell

Substitues used: Danny Gould, Luke Lindsay, Sam Collison, Ollie Foley Unused: Ben Hurrion