Thurlow Nunn Premier Brantham Athletic 2 Histon 3 This was another damaging defeat for the Blue Imps as they swapped places with their Cambridgeshire visitors who, like the hosts, still retain an outside chance of a top two finish and promotion, writes Dave Meeson.

The game itself was a fine advert for the league, especially considering the increasingly soggy conditions and was punctuated by some quality goals from both home striker Sam Newson and his Histon counterpart Matty Hayden.

Brantham had the first opportunity in the driving rain as Newson’s shot on the turn was smothered by visiting keeper Sam Roach. However, in was the visitors who took the lead on 10 minutes when a long throw from their skipper Max York skimmed off the head of home midfielder Jack Smith and was eventually scrambled home by Ed Rolph.

Brantham equalised within 90 seconds as Newson fizzed home a 20 yarder which nestled into the bottom corner after good play from Ed Nobbs.

Hayden then restored the Stutes lead on 26 minutes with an even better strike as he took one touch before crashing the ball into the roof of the net from outside the area.

Just before the break Histon went close to adding a third only for York’s effort to be blocked by home keeper Callum Robinson.

Newson again prove a threat after the break and Roach had to be at full stretch to deny him.

Hayden then made it 3-1 with his second of the game, another cracker from the former Lakenheath man as he fired home again from well outside the penalty area.

Brantham then began to improve and a Craig Hughes free kick was diverted against the bar by a Histon defender before Michael Brothers’ clever back heel reached Newson who produced a sublime chip over Roach to reduce the deficit with his 26th goal of the season

Newson thought he had brought the scores level only to be denied by an offside flag against Brothers. Histon substitute Rukky Diejomoah was sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence and right at the death with Brantham relentlessly pushing forward again, Roach produced a fine stop to deny Brothers as Histon gamely held on to make it nine league games without defeat.