Tuesday 1st March 2008
Histon 1 (Murray 67)
Vics 1 (Byrom 89)

The recall of Darryl Stamp by Halifax led to David Brown taking his place up front in the only change from the team that had done so well at Oxford.

After Histon had won two corners in quick succession early in the game Vics settled to dominate the remainder of the half. A run by Mullan was partially halted only for Welch to follow up and drive a shot wide.

Steele set up Byrne and his shot was tipped over the bar by Naisbitt. Welch then rapped the bar from a close range header before Mitchel-King was relieved to see his keeper produce a superb reflex save to prevent him from scoring an headed own goal following a teasing cross from David Brown. When Vics did eventually get the ball into the net it was ruled out for a dubious infringement. Then Mullan and Crowell combined to allow David Brown an opportunity and he was desperately unlucky to see his deflected shot land on top of the bar with the keeper beaten.

Having been outplayed in the first half it came as no surprise that Histon came out determined to rectify the situation. Vics were now on the back foot and other than a break from David Brown that ended in a comfortable save for the home keeper Vics found themselves under the cosh. Yet, led by skipper Michael Welch, the Vics defence appeared inpenetratable until Midson hit the bar and moments later Wright broke free on the right to deliver a cross that set up MURRAY to score from barely six yards.

Yet it was Vics who seemed to be more inspired by the goal and substitute Carr quickly forced Naisbitt into a save from 25 yards. A left foot shot from Burns narrowly cleared the bar before typical aggression and determination from Steele led him to win a 50/50 ball before laying into the path of BYROM who curled a precision 25 yard shot into the far corner of the net.

Vics thought they had won maximum points at the death but Lee Steele's strike from 8 yards was ruled out for what must have been a marginal offside decision.

Team: 3-5-2
Connett /
Welch, Belle, Roberts /
Mullan, Crowell (Burns 75), Byrom, Byrne (Carr 67), R. Brown (Horrocks 80) /
D. Brown, Steele /
Subs not used: Tynan & Meadowcroft.
Referee: S. Beck
Attendance: 702
Man of the Match: Michael Welch