Histon success shows Brakes are on the right road

The young hosts showed plenty of industry and endeavour throughout but found themselves unable to unduly trouble a well-drilled visiting defence that was superbly marshalled again by Mace and Jamie Hood.

The opening exchanges saw Leamington come within a whisker of taking the lead, Richard Taundry firing a free-kick towards the Histon penalty area from the halfway line which was knocked on by Jack Edwards into the path of Ben Mackey, who was inches from diverting it into the net.

Brakes went even closer when, after Edwards’ sterling work under heavy pressure, the ball was played out to the right where Ogleby and Ben George kept possession. The latter drove in a low cross which was met first time by Edwards, with his shot spinning just past the upright.

Edwards then lifted a fine ball out to the left edge of the penalty box, where Mackey’s stinging volley brought out the best in Stutes keeper Denzel Gerrar, who got down at his near post to help the ball behind for a corner.

Histon defender Evan Key was off the pitch receiving treatment when the opening goal arrived. Taundry played the ball back to Tony Breeden and the keeper sent his clearance down the left where Moore got the better of right-back Max York before cutting across the edge of the box and burying a powerful low drive into the bottom corner.

Shortly before half-time, the patched-up Key sparked penalty claims when his header into the box appeared to hit a visiting arm, but the officials were not interested.

Mace had a couple of early second-half headers saved by Gerrar, while Mackey was just beaten to Ogleby’s low driven cross by the Histon keeper.

At the other end, Hood was at his imperious best to snuff out any sign of a threat from the busy Stutes front line, getting in well to prevent Sam Ives from having a clear run at goal before a well-timed header ended another move as the hosts began to build up a head of steam.

Taundry fired a free-kick well over the bar before a smart diagonal through ball for Ogleby saw the striker dig out a shot under pressure from Jack Uttridge which was easily claimed by Gerrar.

His next effort outwitted everyone, however, as he picked up possession on the right of the box before sending a shot looping into the far corner to delight the travelling support behind the goal.

Mace then put the icing on the cake as he rose highest to power home Ross Oulton’s free kick with seven minutes remaining.

Histon: Denzel Gerrar, Max York, Ashley White (Danny Rumens, 26), Evan Key, Jack Uttridge (Salim Relizani, 76), Rogan McGeorge, Lee Smith, Tom McGowan, Sam Ives, Ryan Auger, Jordan Nicholson (Nick Freeman, 60). Subs not used: Brendan Brown, Curtis Fulcher.

Brakes: Tony Breeden, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood (Kieren Westwood, 84), James Mace, Rob Ogleby, Richard Taundry (Ross Oulton, 66), Ben Mackey (Will Green, 76), Jack Edwards, Lee Moore. Subs not used: Jake Jones, Matt Hill.