Histon opened the season with an away fixture to Hayes, a side that completed the league double over the Stutes last season.

With all three summer signings making the trip to Middlesex, and they all made the start, with Neil Kennedy and Ian Cambridge dropping to the bench, the pitch was going to make an impact on both sides, with a hosepipe ban in the area the pitch was looking more brown than green.

The home side was full of new signings, no few than five making debuts, and it was the home side that could have taken the lead after just 3 minutes, with Lance Key saving from Liam Feeney's volley, Erkan Okay saved Histon in the next attack, getting his head to a Feeney cross that was heading to Shaun McAuley.

The Stutes then began to find their feet and move forwards with menace, Jamie Barker was just wide after Hayes defender Adam Logie had inadvertently flicked on a corner and within a minute the same player saw his goalbound drive brilliantly tipped around the post by 19 year old debutant keeper Reece Kirk. The breakthrough for the visitors was not long coming though, Steve Jackman had driven across goal and wide before a punted Matt Langston free-kick from halfway saw Kirk caught in no mans land as Barker rose and headed the ball into the now vacant net.

Just before the break visiting stopper Key kept his side ahead, saving with his legs as Kieran Knight broke on goal after a neat interchange with Michael Bartley.

As with the first period, the home came out with purpose and after a couple of efforts had been blocked away by defenders an equaliser came courtesy of a sweeping move down the left flank. Feeney received the ball on the left before advancing and crossing to Ryan Ashe, the midfielders deft touch dropped perfectly for Knight who volley past Key from the edge of the area.

The goal shocked the Stutes into action by this and both Barker and Robbie Nightingale shot over when well placed. We then produced another flowing upfield move playing football barely seen in a Hayes side in recent years! Knight found the impressive Feeney and his cross on the run found Michael Bartley but the striker could only head into Keys midriff.

Stutes Manager Steve Fallon then made what was to be a crucial substitution, replacing both of his front runners with Ian Cambridge and Neil Kennedy who was to destroy the home sides hopes with a late double. The change did not pay immediate dividends and indeed it was the home side who could have taken the lead soon after, Kirk planted the ball deep into enemy territory, Michael Bartley flicked on and Knight was only just wide with another volley.

With just over ten minutes remaining Kirk did well to deny Neil Kennedy who had met Barkers cross at close range only to be denied by a flying block by the Hayes keeper. Shortly after though a needless corner was conceded and Kennedy was not going to be denied a second time as he rose at the far post to squeeze the ball between keeper and post.

With just five minutes to go Nightingale should have done better when the ball fell to him in the six yard box but his miscontrol enabled Kirk to gather, the visitors didn't have long to wait though, Adam Logie headed a deep ball back to where he expected Kirk to be but sadly the debutant had come to meet him which left Neil Kennedy with the simple task of tapping home his second and the Stutes third to seal a first ever League victory over Hayes.

Histon Key, Hanniver, Okay, Jackman, Langston, Nightingale, J Kennedy (A Cambridge 60), Andrews, Bloomfield (N Kennedy 67), McDougald (I Cambridge 67), Barker

Subs Not Used Knight - Percival, Roberts

Goals: Hayes: Knight (55),    Histon: Barker (30), Kennedy (79, 87)

Attendance: 244

Pictures from Hayes