Alty 0 Histon 1

6:46pm Monday 3rd November 2008

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FOOTBALL’S reputation as ‘the beautiful game’ took a severe bashing as Alty lost 1-0 to Histon - ending their nine-game unbeaten run at Moss Lane.

The Robins were pounded into submission by the rugged Stutes, Jack Midson’s second half goal sealing their first home defeat in almost three months.

Histon’s direct approach was no suprise, it was the sheer extent of their win at all costs mentality that was a real shock to the system.

They barely strung three passes together throughout the entire 90 minutes, instead electing for an ugly aerial bombardment, pumping long balls, throw-ins and corners into the Alty box.

Successful they may be but entertaining they most certainly are not - it’s no wonder they average crowds of less than 900 at the Glassworld Stadium.

It’s a style that Alty have always struggled to cope with, although, to their credit, they did hold Histon at bay pretty effectively for much of the game.

The visitors exerted plenty of pressure throughout the first half but were largely limited to a string of half chances.

That said, they could have been ahead within four minutes had Midson found the target with a header from Danny Wright’s zipping near post cross.

Alty hit back and Matt Doughty curled a right-foot shot inches past the post, while Colin Little had a goalbound effort blocked after a neatly worked short corner with Lee Elam.

But Histon took a firm grip on proceedings as half time approached.

Matthew Langston fired wide from all of five yards after Gareth Gwillim’s cross broke to him, while both Wright and Midson failed to get a touch when Josh Simpson flashed a ball across the face of goal.

And just two minutes before the break Elam - so often creator in chief - turned defensive saviour, clearing Midson’s goalbound header from a Lanre Oyebanjo corner off the line.

Alty were forced into an unwanted change at the break, substitute keeper Andy Ralph replacing injured number one Stuart Coburn.

The back-up stopper barely had time to settle in between the posts when he given his first serious test, flicking Simpson’s stinging close range effort round the post.

It was another substitution, on 56 minutes, that gave the Robins renewed impetus.

Targetman Dale Johnson replaced Chris Senior and quickly got involved in the action, although he was denied by Danny Naisbitt with a free header from Shaun Densmore’s cross.

Greg Young also spurned a similar chance, heading straight at the keeper from Elam’s corner and moments later they were made to pay for their profligacy.

From Gwillim’s cross, Wright glanced a superb header towards goal and although it cannoned off the post, Midson bundled home the rebound.

Alty battled on in search of an equaliser and were unlucky not to find it.

Little was just off-target with a clever back-header and Anthony Danylyk had a rasping 20-yard effort turned round the post by Naisbitt but Histon held on.