Saturday 23 October 2004 - The Glass World Stadium - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

The above list saw Justin Shuttlewood return in goal after six weeks out with a rib injury, Sam Bailey restored at the back, Reinier Moor handed a rare start on the left of midfield and Jimmy Benefield switched into an unusual central midfield role. As early as the opening 30 seconds it was clear that it was going to be a testing afternoon for City, Libam heading Barker’s cross narrowly wide. Histon’s very direct approach was in complete contrast to City’s more measured game but it was apparent that what it lacked in aesthetics it more than made up for in effectiveness. City had had several nervous moments before they finally conceded the opening goal on 24 minutes. Frustratingly it was from a needlessly conceded corner that Vowden powered a header into the roof of the net. Four minutes later it got even worse for City when Barker nodded Vowden’s cross back across goal where three Histon players were queuing up to score – Kennedy was the one who got there first. City were struggling to create any attacking momentum of their own with Scott Partridge looking largely anonymous. And their defensive struggles were not helped by Histon’s Cambridge launching 40-yard throws into the box at every opportunity where Barker went close from one of these after 36 minutes. Five minutes before the interval the game was effectively over when a corner was only cleared as far as Andrews, who fired an unstoppable 25-yard shot past a stranded Shuttlewood. Matt Coupe denied Okay moments later to at least keep City just in touching distance.

And for a brief time an unlikely comeback did seem possible. Within a minute of the restart Graeme Power’s pass sent Moor free down the left and his cross was headed home by Darren Hawkins. The hope was to keep the game tight but this was not helped when Bailey limped off with a groin strain on 51 minutes. He was replaced by 16-year old Mark Branton who went to left-back with Power moving into the centre. It soon became clear that the home side still had more goals in them, Shuttlewood twice having to save from Libam and Nightingale. Milton then blocked Andrews’ effort but the 59th minute saw an unmarked Libam head home Histon’s fourth. The Stutes seemed content with this and proceeded to slow the game down and deny City any way back into the game. However, there was still time for the day to get even worse for the Romans. With three minutes remaining Shuttlewood reached a through ball ahead of Kennedy only for the striker to unnecessarily, especially given the scoreline, follow through and catch the keeper. He was stretchered off to give another teenager, Tom Wood, his debut in City colours. And he only had one thing to do in his brief appearance and that was pick the ball out of the net - Libam heading home five minutes into stoppage time.