Histon humbling
By Adam Summers

WEYMOUTH'S need for a new strike partner for Stuart Beavon was underlined again on Saturday as Histon snatched a single-goal victory to boost their play-off hopes.

The 23-year-old worked extremely hard during the 90 minutes but often found himself isolated and under extreme pressure from two towering centre halves as the Terras' 4-5-1 formation failed to create much on another disappointing afternoon at the Wessex Stadium.

The Terras only mustered four attempts on goal with Jack Compton heading over their best chance and Paolo Vernazza hitting the bar from long range.

Those two efforts came after Antonio Murray found the net for Histon on 52 minutes and really the away side should have added more with Jack Midson and Matthew Mitchell-King both missing gilt-edged chances.

The Terras have failed to net in their last four home games in the league.

In fact it was Gavin McCallum who last registered a Blue Square Premier strike at the Wessex back on November 24 against York City but on Saturday the Canadian was not even on the bench as the Terras made two changes to their squad.

Histon were hit by a wave of early pressure from the hosts who made a half chance after just 20 seconds.

Good hold up play by Beavon saw him feed full back Trevor Challis and when he crossed from the left Nick Crittenden was only denied by a desperate clearance from Mitchell-King.

The visitors were clearly shaken but as the half went on they began to settle and were soon causing problems at the other end.

Home keeper Jason Matthews raced off his line to stop Midson from latching on to a lucky ricochet before Murray showed great technique to send a volley just over the bar at the far post.

Murray was proving a menace and on 21 minutes his superb flat ball into the box very nearly handed Midson a close-range opportunity but the impressive Matthews lunged at his feet to make a good take.

Weymouth were failing to get their wingers Crittenden and Compton into the game and instead started pumping long balls up to Beavon who was fighting a losing battle against two six-footers.

As a result Histon took complete control and enjoyed a fantastic period of pressure before the break.

Midson crossed from the right by-line to set up a glorious opening for Nathaniel Knight-Percival who was denied by a first class stop from Matthews before Murray went close again with a shot from an acute angle that flew across the face of the target.

Mitchell-King then had a free header from a corner that he should have done better with moments later as the Terras continued to look shaky.

The half ended with Murray making a cynical tackle on Trevor Challis. Fans called for the midfielder to be sent off but referee Andy Hendley pulled out the yellow card.

The Terras started well in the second half but again lacked creativity and on 52 minutes they got caught out when Midson showed good movement before setting up Murray who sent a fine finish past Matthews and into the top left corner of the net from 16 yards.

That prompted a response from the Terras who finally managed to engineer some space for West Bromwich Albion loanee Compton down the left.

The talented youngster twice got in good crossing positions but on the first one he had no one to hit in the box and on the second his delivery was poor.

Forward Michael Malcolm then joined Beavon up front as the hosts took off defender Justin Roberts and switched to 3-5-2 system but it made little difference.

In fact Histon should have gone on to double their tally. Midson missed a glorious chance when he chipped wide after a mistake by Challis and then Mitchell-King volleyed off target at the near post from a corner despite finding himself totally unmarked.

Weymouth desperately needed some inspiration in attack and the unlikely source of full back Kyle Critchell nearly provided it with 17 minutes remaining.

His fine feint saw him ghost past an opponent and when his first cross was blocked he sent over another attempt that Compton headed over when he really should have hit the target.

Critchell's endeavour seemed to lift the home supporters and moments later Vernazza let fly with a sweet strike from 30 yards that rattled the top of the crossbar.

The Terras threw Coutts and Doe into the fray in the latter stages but Histon comfortably held on much to the frustration of home boss John Hollins and his assistant Alan Lewer.