Histon will have been disappointed not to have come away with at least a point from title chasing St Albans City on Saturday. St Albans inflicted Histons biggest home defeat on then earlier in the year when they ended up 5-0 winners at the Glass World stadium.

The game started brightly for the home side when Lance Key tipped a cross come shot over the bar in just the first minute from Paul Hakim but both sides with so much at stake both sides looked nervous in the opening period. Daniel Bloomfield slipped the ball to Jamie Barker in the 5th minute but the midfielder had the ball taken off his foot before he could get his shoot in.

In the 8th minute Ian Cambridge started a move that involved Jamie Barker and Danny Bloomfield that ended with Cambridge bringing out the best save of the match from St Albans ‘keeper Paul Badstock.

In the 9th minute Paul Badstock in the Saints goal and skipper Neil Andrews chased a loose ball resulting in Andrews requiring lengthy treatment. Although Neil struggled on for another 10 minutes he was finally replaced by Nat Knight-Percival.

Histon had 2 corners in quick succession, both taken by Ian Cambridge, the 2nd a much deeper one, was flicked on by Rob Nightingale onto the head of Steve Jackman but his header was straight at the home ‘keeper.

Paul Badstock then received lengthy treatment as a result of the earlier clash with Andrews.

The opening goal came in the 27th minutes when Ram Marwa powered his way through the Histon defenders and placed his shot just inside the left hand post out of the reach of Lance Key

2 minutes later Steve Jackman was adjudged to have committed a foul on Lee Clarke just outside the box but only the referee seemed to have seen the foul. The resulting free kick finished up in the crowd.

In the second half it was one way traffic, Jamie Barker, Nat Knight-Percival, Danny Bloomfield and Ian Cambridge were linking up really well to penetrate the home defence but some desperate defending and excellent goalkeeping kept Histon at bay.

Histon thought they had equalised in the 63 minutes when Rob Nightigale’s fierce shot was parried by Paul Badstock into the path of Danny Bloomfield who made no mistake to slot the ball home, but referee Matthew Stewart thought otherwise and disallowed the goal, indicating ‘handball’.

6 minutes later Danny Bloomfield appeared to have been bundled over in the area by Paul Badstock but the referee waved play on to the disbelief of the Histon players and travelling fans.

So concerned was the St Albans management at the Histon domination that they made a triple substitution in the 70th minute as they tried to steady the ship, it didn’t work and Histon continued to dominate.

On 75 minutes Nat Knight-Percival who, had an excellent 2nd half, had a great run weaving his way through the home defence but his shoot was blocked by a defender.

With 3 minutes remaining on the clock, Adie Cambridge tried to chip the ‘keeper from outside the area but it went just the wrong side of the upright.

In the final seconds of the game Lance Key joined in the front line as Histon had a corner but he was unable to jump high enough to get his head to the ball from Ada Cambridges corner.

St Albans choose there MOM as ‘keeper Paul Badsctock, that itself gives an indication of how the game went.