High-Flying Histon end Town’s Unbeaten Home Run - Match Report: Nuneaton Town 0 Histon 1

By George Kirk

Nuneaton Town suffered their first home defeat in the league, since losing to Heather St Johns in August last year, as Histon held on to secure a valiant win on the road.

Karl Saffery’s early header was all that made the difference, as the visitors survived an onslaught, defending heroically to claim their eighth win in nine games.

This result piles on the pressure for Town, as March Town are only two points below them with a game in hand, and in-form Histon closing the gap to only three points.  

Kick-Off:

Nuneaton began the game brightly, as danger-man Kyle Jardine headed on-target, with the effort being claimed by the keeper, an early reminder for the visitors of Town’s attacking prowess.

This would wake up the Stutes, who would reply shortly after by hitting Town with a sucker punch in the 12th minute, as Karl Saffery headed in off the bar, to give Histon an early lead.

Acco and Doddsy’s men responded by hitting the away side hard, relentlessly attacking but being unable to convert, with Danico Johnson heading just over, McGrath forcing Jake West into a smart save and Eesa Sawyers volleying wide.

In the 35th minute, Nuneaton almost had the equaliser, when Jardine was put through on goal, firing a strike at the net, however was denied heroically, being blocked by a sliding challenge.

Not long after, Town’s fans would be in their mouths, as Declan Somel slid in a late challenge, being given a yellow card, which on another day could easily have been red.

Half-Time: Nuneaton Town 0-1 Histon

The second half began positively for the home side, as Goal Machine Jardine had the keeper beat, crashing an effort off the post from outside the box.

From then on Histon shut up shop, doing everything they possible could to defend, throwing the whole team behind the ball, frustrating Acco and Doddsy’s men and making things very difficult.

This lead to a very nervy last fifteen minutes, for the Stutes who had to survive a barrage of different attacks.

Jardine came inches away from grabbing an equaliser, getting a free-kick and firing an almost identical effort to his goal away at Knowle in the FA Vase, but this one went just wide of the target.

In the 85th minute, there was huge controversy as James Harrison crossed to the back-post, being alleged to have just crossed the line before being cleared away, however the referee remained unmoved.

Town had one last chance at the death, with Danico Johnson blasting off a defender, somehow looping over the bar.

A tough one to take for the Town, who now must go again and bounce back.

Full-Time: Nuneaton Town 0-1 Histon

MOTM: Loyiso Recci

Attendance: 578

Team: Brandon Bache, Kai Thomas (Brown 81’), Callum Carsley, Corey Currithers ©, Michael McGrath (Y 58’), Loyiso Recci, Declan Somel (Y 41’, Jones 51’), Kyle Jardine, Eesa Sawyers (Harrison 71’ Y 78’), Danico Johnson, Alex Lock (Hendrie 48’)

Substitutes: Stuart Hendrie, James Harrison, Aaron Brown, Cody Mullan, Charlie Jones

Next-Up: Nuneaton Town are back on the road, as they take on Lutterworth Town on Saturday 22nd November, with a 2pm kick-off.