HISTON 1 WEYMOUTH 0

WEYMOUTH slipped deeper into the Blue Square Premier relegation mire as Matt Langston’s early goal condemned them to another defeat and virtually secured Histon’s place in the promotion play-offs.

The defender’s fifth minute header proved to be the decisive moment of a poor match in which the Stutes rode their luck at times as the visitors mounted a spirited fight back in the second half.

The result means that barring a disaster on Sunday at Crawley Town, Histon will finish the season in the top five as Kidderminster, who lost 3-1 at Stevenage last night, need to make up eight goals.

Weymouth made a bright start in the opening minutes with Cliff Akurang making a bustling run into the area but his cross was cleared by Gareth Gwillim.

But disaster struck after just five minutes when Langston got his head to Gwillim’s free-kick and although the Terras’ keeper Adam Legzdins got a hand to the ball he was unable to keep it out.

Dominic Merella flicked a tame shot on target that Danny Naisbitt saved comfortably but Histon’s lead should have been doubled in the 11th minute when Danny Wright headed straight at Legzdins from five yards out.

The best chance Weymouth had of equalising came in the 17th minute when Fola Onibuje touched the ball through to Akurang who somehow failed to connect 10 yards out.

The game entered a scrappy phase of play with neither side able to string successive passes together with Weymouth successfully keeping the hosts at bay until two minutes before the break when Barker’s dipping shot sailed just wide of the far post.

Weymouth started the second half with greater purpose with Steven Reed volleying James Coutts’ free-kick just over the bar in the 52nd minute and Merella curling an effort narrowly wide.

Knight-Percival almost put Histon 2-0 up from another Gwillim free-kick but his header landed wide of the far post.

Cameron Mawer then came close to equalising just before the hour with a long-range effort but Naisbitt was at full strength to tip Cameron Mawer’s shot over the bar.

Weymouth were growing in confidence with Gill and substitute Pierre Joseph-Dubois beginning to look more threatening.

Mawer denied Knight-Percival at the far post before Joseph-Dubois wasted the best chance the visitors had of coming away with a point in the 76th minute.

Naisbitt rushed out to claim a long clearance by Legzdins but succeeded only in pushing the ball on to Joseph-Dubois. The forward had a clear shot at goal but with defenders rushing back blasted his shot into the side-netting.

Histon finished the game strongly, Murray heading wide and Wright forcing a good save from Legzdins as Weymouth hopes of salvaging a vital point faded.

Histon: Naisbitt, Pope, Langston, Ada, Gwillim, Barker (Murray 55), Andrews (Oyebanjo 75), Mitchel-King, Knight-Percival, Midson, Wright. Subs not used: Welch, Stewart, Roache.

Booked: Pope 20 (foul).

Weymouth: Legzdins, Critchell, Hoyte, Mawer, Collins (Gwinnett 25), Gill, Reed (Joseph-Dubois 55), Coutts, Merella, Akurang, Onibuje. Subs not used: Evans, Cooke, Richardson.

Booked: Reed 30 (dissent), Mawer 56 (foul).

Referee: R Whitton Attendance: 1,016.