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Histon 0-2 Rushden and Diamonds

Histon's struggle for Blue Square Bet Premier survival is almost over after they lost 2-0 at home to Rushden and Diamonds on Tuesday night.

It was the Stutes' eighth successive defeat and leaves them 12 points adrift of 20th-placed Hayes & Yeading with six games to go.

Paul O'Connor opened the scoring via a 59th-minute penalty after he was fouled by Remy Clerima with Shane Huke securing the points after heading in from Justin Miller with seven minutes of the match remaining.

With a host of injuries to the Histon squad, it was a very young side that took to the field at the Glass World Stadium. But it was Omer Riza who tried to steal the headlines with a shot straight from the kick off with Diamonds keeper Joe Day off his line, however, the effort landed just wide of the goal.

Lee Smith then came even closer from a corner in the eighth minute that hit the bar as Wes Foderingham was forced into a good save from Aaron O'Connor.

Riza hit a volley over the bar in the 19th minute after latching onto a ball forward from Clerima before the stopper denied Huke from close range.

Rushden should have taken the lead in the 44th minute but Craig Farrell only succeeded in hitting the woodwork after Matt Johnson's scuffed shot fell to the striker in the box.

Histon had a few good chances to find a goal at the start of the second half as Riza's pace caused the Rushden defence all sorts of problems but it was the visitors who went closest as Justin Miller found the side-netting with a low shot in the 55th minute.

The Diamonds eventually found the goal their play deserved, albeit from the penalty spot, after Clerima had barged over O'Connor.

Lanre Oyebanjo came close to allowing Justin Edinburgh's side in for a second before recovering well as, after passing the ball straight to Alan Power, who fed Matt Johnson, he somehow recovered in time to block the shot.

O'Connor missed another good chance before a Miller long throw found Huke, who placed his header past a stranded Foderingham.

The stopper denied Jamie Day late on from a free kick as Riza came close with a near-post effort that Day managed to block.

Rushden are still holding out hope of securing a play-off place in ninth with 56 points from 40 games; ten points off Fleetwood Town in fifth.

Att: 363

Ref: Nick Kinseley