Cambridgeshire County League

Division 2A

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Histon Hornets 4 Steeple Morden 1, attendance 34

22’ 1-0

45’ 2-0

48’ 3-0

82’ 3-1

83’ 4-1

@ Histon & Impington Recreation Ground

New Road

Impington

CB24 9EL

No Admission or Programme.

Histon & Impington Recreation Ground hosts cricket and tennis, as well as the football club. The pitch was roped along part of one side, which extended slightly further due to the cricket square being protected. The playing surface was absolutely superb, perhaps a reflection of the fact Ipswich Town F.C. have some sort of tie up here. The modern changing room building is on the left as you enter from the car park, with the pitch further along, running widthways, with tennis courts behind one goal, whilst behind the fence at the other goal end is the ground of Histon F.C. Unusually for a ground at this level, especially for an early evening kick off, there was a tea bar in operation, with hot food and drinks available, although rather pricey.

The match was 7th versus 13th (out of 14) in the league table, with Histon Hornets safe in mid table, whilst visitors Steeple Morden have games in hand on the two teams above them, so still have a chance of avoiding relegation. It took Histon until midway through the first half to make the breakthrough, lobbing the ‘keeper from the edge of the box after being played clear and they doubled their lead in the final minute of the half, when a through ball was nicked past the ‘keeper for a supporting player to tap into the unguarded net. Three minutes into the second half it was 3-0, heading in a corner from six yards. As the gloom descended, not helped by light rain now falling, Steeple Morden pulled a goal back with eight minutes left, with a long range shot into the bottom corner and from the kick off Histon immediately made it 4-1, shooting in from the centre circle (second consecutive day I’ve now seen a goal scored like this!), no doubt aided by the ‘keeper suffering with visibility. Before the game resumed, the Referee called both Captains together and the game was called to a halt, with six minutes still to play, although the F.A. Full Time website shows the final result as 4-1, rather than the game having been abandoned.

Had the game not kicked off four minutes late in the first place, then it may just have run it’s full course, although had it not been for the floodlights of the tennis courts and those of Histon F.C. (their Reserves were playing at 19.45) being on, then we wouldn’t have managed to play anywhere near the amount we actually did!

Above photo…..the final few seconds…