Stutes:2 U's:0

Isn’t it amazing how a game about which one is so blasé about before hand can still cause you great annoyance 24 hours later. While I’m pleased we’re now rid of the FA Trophy, it’s a shame we had to lose to them again, and will now have to put up with the insufferable gloating of Baldwin/Fallon/Random die hard (sic) fans on Histon FM, I mean Radio Cambridgeshire.

To be fair to the Stutes, they deserved their win and place in round three, as once more United failed to deal with the strong-arm tactics of Geppetto, Pinnochio, and their band of loveable part-timers. United actually played quite well in the first half, but heads dropped after the second goal and we never really looked like getting back into the match after that. The late dismissals of Carden and LFW were unfortunate too, and although I doubt we’ll miss the Lemu that much, Carden will be a big loss.

Histon had the better of the early exchanges, with Potter tipping a Langston header over the bar and comfortably dealing with a shot from Antonio Murray. However, United gradually began to play their way back into the match, putting together some good moves, despite the bog-like pitch, with the busy Carden pulling the strings. Unfortunately there was little in the way of telling end product, with Pitt and Wolleaston shooting wide and Convery blasting a free kick into the side netting.

On the balance of play 0-0 would probably have been a fair half time score, but on the stroke of the interval United conceded a stupid soft ‘percentages’ goal, the kind on Histon have built their success and one which really should have been prevented. Adie Cambridge scudded a throw into the box, where Nat Knight-Percival rose highest to flick a header over the advancing Potter and into the corner of the net. 1-0.

Half time saw LFW charging around the pitch in ominous fashion, sharpening his elbows and sticking pins in his Craig Pope voodoo doll. The outcome was nothing if not predictable.

But before the fun started United managed to shoot themselves in the foot and concede another farcical goal. Morrison looked to have things under control on the by line, but lost out to Murray, who cut the ball back for Danny Wright to fire a clinical low shot into the net. Quite out of character with the rest of the big strikers game, but a great finish none-the-less. 2-0.

JQ then surprisingly withdrew Boylan, who was providing a good outlet for United despite little help from a jaded looking Scotty Rendell, and replace him with Leo. Of course this ended any chances of us trying to play football, and instead we took the usual lazy route of knocking long balls up to the front two. Unsurprisingly, given that the entire Histon defence look like they are put in grow-bags between games, it didn’t work.

Leo’s first contribution was to clatter Mr Pope into the advertising hoardings, for which he was deservedly booked. Moments later he tried an overhead kick which landed closer to the corner flag than goal, while Wolleaston guided a tame header into the arms of Naisbett.

Unfortunately (or not, depending on your point of view) I can’t really comment on the sendings off as I had already left the ground at this point. I think I’ve only left two games ‘early’ in the last 18 months, and coincidentally they’ve both been at the same location. Anyway, however much JQ bleats about provocation, they should have known better. It’s not like we haven’t played Histon before.

So yeah, overall it was another 'meh' performance, we need to rediscover our x-factor sharpish. I’ll consol myself with the fact that we won’t have to pay the villagers another visit this season, unless we get them in the play offs that is.

Man of the Match: Josh Coulson – I would have given it to Carden had he not be red-carded, but young Josh also played well, allying some tough tackling with accurate, thoughtful, distribution. Any scouts who had come to watch Morro might now be having a rethink.

Chant of the Match: Probably not a new one on those of you who were at the two matches over Christmas, but “Histon till July” made me chuckle.