Cambridge City bounce back from loss with first league win under manager Jamie Cureton while Histon lose to controversial 98th minute goal
Cambridge City celebrated their first Pitching In Isthmian League North Division win under manager Jamie Cureton with a 3-1 scoreline over at newly-promoted Mildenhall Town on Monday.
The Lilywhites were 2-0 up at half-time at the Riverside Stadium courtesy of a one-on-one finish from Harry Phillips 13 minutes in before Jayden Gipson headed home in a crowded box in added time.
Mildenhall threatened a comeback when Thomas Newman reduced the deficit to one on 56 but the three points were eventually wrapped up in the ninth minute of stoppage-time with George Smith providing the finish.
It provided the perfect response to Saturday;s 3-1 loss at home to Basildon United which had seen Ruben Bartlett-Antwi and Kye Jude goals come either side of half-time for the visitors with Smith’s 66th minute penalty proving to be merely a consolation with Darren Esuzia getting the Essex side’s third in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The quickfire bank holiday weekend games leaves City with four points after their opening three matches, having drawn on the opening day at Heybridge Swifts (1-1).
On Saturday they travel to a Maldon & Tiptree side who also have the same points haul, leaving them alongside each other in the embryonic table in ninth and 10th respectively.
Meanwhile, Monday’s match at Mildenhall saw a collection staged for their current player and former Lilywhites midfielder Simon Swinton who suffered a horrific injury last week.
The versatile player, who joined Phil Weavers’ side in the summer of 2023 from Cambridge City, ruptured his ACL in his knee as well as tearing his MCL (both cruciate ligaments) in a training game.
In a statement, Mildenhall boss Weavers wrote: “Swints is a huge part of this team and his loss will leave a hole that no-one else could fill. But, someone self employed suffering an injury as serious as this has a huge impact outside of football as well, and it’s only right we do what we can to help and support one of our own.”
He added: “As someone who has had such an impact on both sides in today’s fixture, I feel it’s only fitting we do our best to return that impact.”
Controversial late winner denies Histon
Meanwhile, having celebrated their first league win in four attempts on Saturday, Histon’s players and travelling fans were left gutted by a controversial late goal at Enynesbury Rovers on Monday which left them empty handed.
Chris Nunn’s side were looking to snatch all three points at the St Neots-based club when Max York had a header from a corner eight minutes into stoppage time cleared off the line by what was claimed to be a hand. But the referee saw nothing wrong with it and the home side broke clear to score the game’s only goal via substitute Joshua Howard-Dobson.
The 1-0 defeat had followed on from Saturday’s pleasing 3-1 victory at home to Coventry United with Karl Saffery’s fourth minute opener added to by Matt Hayden for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
The telling third goal eventually arrived for the Stutes via substitute Joseph Antony Sutton in the 92nd minute.
Their recent results leave Histon 12th in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties Football League Premier Division South standings, having picked up five points from five matches.
Nunn’s side are back in action at Bridge Road on Saturday with Lutterworth Town the visitors (31 August) ahead of a trip to face St Neots Town on Tuesday (3 September).