Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 0 Histon 3
Wednesday, December 1 2004
Anyone thinking that FA Cup giantkillers Histon may ease of the pedal before their big tie with Yeovil Town was mistaken.
Hitchin were cast aside with ease by a well-drilled and highly confident side - possibly the best team that the Canaries had come up against all season. And in disposing of Hitchin, with some clinical finishing, Histon recorded their 14th consecutive win.
Although Hitchin started well, Histon had the better chances, notably a Rob Nightingale lob that was deflected over the bar and a Roscoe Hipperson header that sailed wide. The Canaries only response was a Chris McMenamin free-kick that was comfortably saved by Lance Key.
Key's opposite number, Richard Wilmot, saved with his feet from Neil Andrews to keep the scoresheet blank at half-time.
But five minutes into the restart, Nightingale gave Histon the lead with a superb turn and shot into the top corner. Thirteen minutes later, Neil Kennedy,looking offside, buried a shot past Wilmot for Histon's second.
Wilmot prevented Ian Cambridge from adding another with a flying save, but in the 76th minute, the impressive Cambridge played the ball through to Kennedy and he shot into the bottom corner for the third goal.
Apart from another free-kick by McMenamin, Histon's imposing goalkeeper Key had a comfortable night ahead of what will surely be a tougher test on Saturday.
One positive for Hitchin on the night: the attendance of 332 was the third highest this season at Top Field.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Old (Scott 74), Kidd, Covington, Smith, Cavill, Sozzo (Hassan 67), Bridge (Potter 85), Hay, McMenamin, Hutton
