FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay

28 October 2008

City succumb in Cambs

by Ken Milgate

Histon 5 – Midson 6, 90+3, Wright 57, 58, Simpson 67

Durham City 2 – Johnston 48, Cogdon 70

City eventually forfeited their magnificent unbeaten run on a rain-soaked pitch in Cambridgeshire.  On the day, Histon proved City’s superiors both physically and mentally, adapting their play better to the conditions underfoot; City’s passing game was constantly thwarted by an unsympathetic surface, and the heart of the defence endured a torrid time against the hosts’ effective route-one football.

Jack Midson had Craig Turns racing out to claim the ball at his feet on 5minutes, but a minute later he could only look on as the former met a Danny Wright cross with a looping header.

City conceded two consecutive corners as the hosts kept up the pressure while City’s attempts on the counter were all too often curtailed when cross field passes were held up on a cloying surface.

Lanre Oyebanjo, even though off balance and with his back to goal, headed narrowly over another Wright cross before Josh Simpson cleared the bar from distance.

City were wanting too much time on the ball while Histon were in no mood to concede their advantage.

It was Gavin Cogdon who registered City’s first attempt on goal just after the half hour, his close ball control keeping the home defence on their toes all night.

The thickness of an upright kept City in the game five minutes before the break when Midson was denied after outstripping his marker.

Two minutes into the second half Simpson fired over from a long throw, but City hit back immediately and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Stephen Capper’s cross was headed clear to the feet of Adam Johnston who rifled home from some fifteen yards.

The goal visibly lifted City’s spirits, but a Wright double in a minute dented their hopes: on 57minutes he drilled home a right-wing cross before capitalizing again on poor defending when he converted Midson’s pass from close range.

Another determined left-wing run by Capper set up Cogdon on 66minutes but he scuffed his first-time shot, giving Danny Naisbitt a comfortable save.

The chance missed, City then went further behind from the goal kick when Wright claimed yet another assist, Simpson being the beneficiary on this occasion, again from close range.

City never know when they are beaten and Cogdon capped an industrious night with an individual goal with some twenty minutes remaining when he swivelled and shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Substitute Nathaniel Knight-Percival sent a free-header over the bar and Cogdon and John Toft (on for Shaun Bell) also found the crossbar too low for their efforts.

A flurry of substitutions ate up the final ten minutes as both sides were unsuccessful with shots from distance, the closest to a hit being a Toft effort on 89minutes which brought Naisbitt to his knees.

In the third minute of stoppage-time Midson lobbed Turns as City pushed forward as a unitary salvage team in search of least another consolation goal.

Histon were generous in their hospitality and praise for City’s style of play and sportsmanship; on the night the hosts were worthy winners and we wish them well in the home tie against Swindon Town and promotion into the League proper.

For City, Bridge Road was a bridge too far, but they have won many new friends on their travels in the FA Cup with their refreshing passing game, flair and style, which deserve more support at home.

So, to the unconverted citizens of Durham, in the immortal words of Delia Smith, “Let’s be having you!”

Histon FC – Naisbitt, Pope, Okay, Mitchel-King, Langston, Barker (Knight-Percival 60), Midson, Oyebanjo, Wright (Reeves 82), Simpson, Ada

Durham City – Turns, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Laws, Calvin Smith, Bell (Toft 61), Cogdon, Johnston (Richard Smith 82), English

Subs not used – Fisher, Duke, Morris, Jake Richardson

Man of the match – Stephen Capper