Connor Wickham scored twice and David Norris, Gareth McAuley, Lee Martin and Jon Stead once as the Blues beat Histon 6-0 at a very hot Glassworld Stadium. As at Newmarket on Tuesday, Town fielded different sides in each half.

Roy Keane started with the same XI as at Newmarket on Tuesday apart from Connor Wickham taking over from Lee Martin in the same 4-3-3 formation. Wickham was in the centre of the attacking three with Jon Walters on the right and Tamás Priskin on the left. Histon included 12 trialists in their squad and former Blues Antonio Murray and Erkan Okay in their starting line-up.

The game’s first serious goal action was a Gareth McAuley header from a corner, which was deflected over.

Wickham went over, then on 13 Histon keeper Joe Welch was out quickly to claim the ball at Priskin’s feet on the edge of the area.

For the home side, ex-Town academy full-back Erkan Okay sent in a 20th minute cross, which Stutes striker Danny Mills nodded over. Moments later, Damien Delaney fluffed a free header from a corner when he ought to have done better.

The Blues continued to be a threat from corners and on 18 Grant Leadbitter went wide with a shot after Histon had half-cleared.

Okay again beat O’Connor in the 23rd minute and it took a last ditch challenge from McAuley to prevent Mills from having a free shot on goal.

Town finally went in front in the 28th minute when Jon Walters played in David Norris and the midfielder slipped the ball past Welch.

Four minutes later, Priskin played a short pass from the right of the area in to Wickham, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Mills again went close in the 35th minute, having escaped the attentions of the Town defence but shot well wide. Moments later, Wickham’s near post effort was squeezed out for another corner.

On 39 Wickham forced Welch into a fine save with a shot from a tight angle on the left. A minute later, a corner was half-cleared to Leadbitter on the edge of the area. Keeper Welch saved the shot but Gareth McAuley nodded home from six yards.

In the 42nd minute, Connor Wickham made it four after a slip from Gomaz allowed the England U17 international through on goal. The Town number nine rounded the keeper and took the ball wide, but had no problem in finding the net from the tight angle.

Town made 10 changes at the break, Tamás Priskin the only player to escape the cull. The Hungarian was presented with the second half’s first opportunity in the 52nd minute but the Histon keeper was out quickly to clear, the Town striker receiving a boot to the stomach for his trouble.

Just before the hour mark, Priskin missed a gilt-edged chance to make it five when he ballooned over the bar from eight yards from a fine Jon Stead cross. Moments later, the former Watford man was replaced by Luciano Civelli, playing his second half hour since returning from his lengthy injury absence.

Histon should have pulled a goal back in the 70th minute when a cross from the left was nodded back across goal but Zak Atwood scuffed his shot from six yards out.

Town made it five a minute later when Couñago played Civelli in one-on-one with the keeper but the Argentinian unselfishly squared to Lee Martin, who tapped home.

On 79 Carlos Edwards sent in a cross too far ahead of Couñago, then Ainsley passed inside when he should have slipped the ball beyond keeper George Norton, before Jon Stead netted the goal of the night, curling an effort from the edge of the area over the keeper and into the net.

Moments later, Couñago could have made it six, but his touch past Norton was too heavy and the ball went wide.

Arran Lee-Barrett was forced into a save in the 84th minute, sticking out a toe to prevent Diabaka Dylan from netting for the Stutes.

Late on, Martin collided with keeper Norton, who required treatment from a physio who tripped over his bag sending medical paraphernalia flying while running to aid the stricken glovesman, then just before the whistle Healy shot over.

Another comfortable victory for the Blues, who were a better side in the first half than the second, with Wickham perhaps the stand-out performer taking both his chances confidently. The Town defence had one or two concerning moments and would have conceded against a better attack, while Tamás Priskin again failed to impress.

In the second half, Civelli put in a quieter half hour than at Newmarket and no one made a particular impression, aside from Carlos Edwards, who made a bid for right-back role with one or two strong runs forward. Jon Stead’s goal was the half’s moment of genuine quality.

The reserves play a friendly at Hadleigh’s Millfield ground on Saturday afternoon, kick-off 3pm.

Town: Murphy (Lee-Barrett 46), Peters (Edwards 46), O’Connor (Ainsley 46), Leadbitter (Quinn 46), McAuley (Bruce 46), Delaney (Brown 46), Walters (Stead 46), Garvan (Healy 46), Wickham (Couñago 46), Norris (Martin 46), Priskin (Civelli 60).

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 18:36 - Jul 10 lol, so many moments from this game, 6 amazing goals announcer saying John Steed, announcer basically getting every player with his number wrong. Physio stack over and drop everything whilst heading over to the injued Histon keeper, classic moments topped up with great support and great performance
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generalpublic added 07:50 - Jul 11 i built a few brickwalls in my time and i understand that youre average brickie nowadays is a multi talented fit as a fiddle well built sort of bloke so i am a little dismayed that they put up so little resistance.i mean roy keanes town 2nd division mid table disjointed overpaid flops are hardly barcelona are they i was expecting you brickies.i feel hurt and slightly saddened that you didnt fight shame on you histon

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