Histon 1 Alty 0 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Histon 1 Alty 0

12:11pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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ALTY were dealt a cruel hand of fate as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Histon.

More accurately, it was the hand of Antonio Murray that crafted the Robins' downfall.

The Histon midfielder handled the ball as he set up teammate Gareth Gwillim for the only goal of the game, changing the course of a clash that seemed destined for stalemate.

But the referee couldn't see what was clear to almost everyone else inside the Glassworld Stadium and Alty's winless streak became six.

In truth, the hosts probably deserved the win - just about - but it was harsh on the Robins, whose effort couldn't be faulted, especially in the first half.

Despite a shaky start, Alty's resilient and combative approach, epitomized by central midfield duo Robbie Lawton and Anthony Danylyk, ensured they weren’t bullied by their physically imposing hosts.

Starved of space and time on the ball throughout the first 45 minutes, the Histon forwards had to make do with scraps.

A wild volley from Jack Midson, after good work by Murray, was about their only early chance of note.

Alty, meanwhile, thrived on the counter.

Chris Denham gave the home side a glimpse of the Robins’ attacking capabilities, his quality, fizzing delivery nicked off the head of the waiting Colin Little by highly-rated full back Lanre Oyebanjo.

Almost immediately after, the visitors nearly caught out Histon at their own game, Greg Young flashing a header across goal from Warren Peyton’s corner. Set pieces are meant to be the Stutes’ forte.

And the Robins even had the ball in the net midway through the half when Dale Johnson flicked Young’s high ball over Naisbitt after the keeper had recklessly dashed 20 yards from his goal.

Offside was given but it was a tight call.

Despite that rush of blood, the home side actually had Naisbitt to thank for keeping them on level terms.

When the ball broke to Peyton 20 yards out, he unleashed a stinging snapshot towards goal, which Naisbitt just about managed to palm away. It was an excellent piece of opportunism by the Alty man but an even better piece of goalkeeping.

Stuart Coburn also came into play 10 minutes before the break, reacting quickly to claw away Mathew Mitchel-King’s effort as it headed towards the bottom corner.

Having put in a top notch first half performance though, Alty couldn’t maintain those high standards after the break.

Penned back inside their own half, they struggled to keep their marauding opponents out.

Coburn held a well-struck shot from Gwillim following a long throw from Mitchel-King and then made a super save to deny Midson, scuttling across his line to block the wideman’s far post header from an Oyebanjo corner.

But Alty’s resistance finally broke with 16 minutes remaining, although Histon’s breakthrough came in controversial fashion.

After the visitors had failed to clear another long throw from Mitchel-King, Murray appeared to use his hand as he helped the ball on to Gwillim 20 yards out. Allowed to continue, the full back hit a powerful shot that skidded off the turf and past an unsighted Coburn.

Alty never really looked like recovering from that blow, although Joe O’Neill tested Naisbitt on 80 minutes with a hooked shot that was dipping towards goal.

In fact, it could have got so much worse for the Robins when Coburn rushed from his goal to bring down Damien Reeves after the former Farsley striker had got in behind the defence.

Luckily, he was far enough from goal to earn just a yellow card.

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Alty man of the match: Anthony Danylyk. Many observers questioned whether Danylyk could cope with the step up from Unibond Premier to Blue Square Premier.

The industrious midfielder has now proved beyond doubt that it should never have been a concern.

He harried and hustled throughout, giving the opposition little time to think, let alone play a pass, although his early booking got him in foul trouble late on.

Alty (4-4-2): Coburn 6; Battersby 7, McGregor 7, Lane 6, Young 7; Denham 6 (Elam 70, 6), Danylyk 7 (Tierney 82), Lawton 7, Peyton 6; Little 6, Johnson 6 (O'Neill 61, 6).
Subs not used: Ralph, Street.
Bookings: Danylyk 31 (foul), Coburn 86 (foul), Young 90 (dissent).

Histon (4-4-2): Naisbitt 6; Oyebanjo 7, Langston 7, Ada 8, Gwillim 7; Midson 7, Mitchel-King 7, Andrews 6 (Reeves 66, 6), Barker 5 (Knight-Percival 72); Murray 6, Wright 6.
Subs not used: Pope, Kennedy, Nightingale.
Goal: Gwillim 74
Booked: Wright 78 (unsporting behaviour).

Attendance: 692

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