Two-week break could boost Histon’s rebuilding process in Northern Premier League
Lance Key hopes that Histon’s two-week break will help to build stability in the squad for the rest of the Pitching In Northern Premier League, Midlands Division season.
The Stutes are stuck at the bottom of the table, and suffered a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Yaxley at Bridge Road last Saturday.
However, it was two individual errors that proved costly – with one after 20 minutes after Histon had started far stronger, and the second killing off the game after 76 minutes.
The hosts were also just unable to make their chances tell, the best coming at the end of the first half when they should have equalised – Josh Dawkin’s chance was cleared off the line and Ed Rolph had a
header saved.
“We knew the game was the proverbial six-pointer and I said to the boys that some people will rise to the occasion and some people might find it difficult,” said Histon
boss Key.
“I thought in the first 20 minutes we were superb and took the game to Yaxley, and were by far the better side. Then Pat (Bexfield) gets his feet mixed up for the first goal, and it’s a poor goal to concede from our point of view because I don’t think they had a chance before that.
“Goals change games and for the next 15 minutes we’re under the cosh a little bit because Yaxley grew in confidence from that.
“We found it difficult to get back into the game, but then I thought we finished the first half the way we started it – we should have equalised just before the break.
“The second goal obviously kills us with Sam Roach coming out for a cross and flapping at it – he will learn from that because he’s a young keeper, and it’s going to happen.
“It’s just one of those where you give two goals away, from our point of view, and in our last third we weren’t good enough, and that’s the difference.”
Histon are not getting any rub of the green at the moment, with even the bounce of the ball in the area going against them.
It just feels like they need a slice of luck to assist a change in fortunes, and the two-week break without a fixture after being knocked out of the FA Trophy could be a blessing
in disguise.
“Luck has to change, it’s got to,” said Key. “I thought the squad we had out was stronger, with a bit more maturity and experience in there.
“We’ve got time to work on things, and hopefully build that camaraderie within the camp and get more stability there.
“Ryan Towner came in from Royston Town and did really well, and I thought there were some good performances out there. It was just two errors that cost us goals, and you can’t give goals away at this level.”
He added: “We will have four or five sessions in the next two weeks, and might have a drink together for a bit of team bonding. The atmosphere in the camp is still very good.”
