The Fleet’s mini revival came unstuck at bogey side Histon as a run of three games without defeat was ended by a goal in the final seven minutes.
With one enforced change, Magno Vieira replacing the injured James Lindie, the Fleet certainly looked more confident pushing forward and won a couple of corners inside the opening 10 minutes, while Gavin Heeroo’s rather hopeful shot on 9 minutes was the only real effort on goal.
John Kennedy tested Lance Cronin with a couple of efforts and though Histon were finding their range with crosses, both Leon Crooks and Darius Charles were resolute in defence.
The Fleet were finding a slight edge as the half wore on and on 32 minutes Cumbers could have done better had he kept a header down. Three minutes later and he almost unlocked the Histon defence, receiving a good through ball from Will Salmon but Danny Naisbitt was able to block on the six-yard line. But the home side immediately charged up the other end and Lance Cronin had to be at his best to stop Michael Frew-s long-range shot.
And Histon almost punished the Fleet on the stroke of half-time as they did at Stonebridge Road last year, Frew getting space wide and crossing for Jamie Barker who powered in at the far post but Salmon cleared for a corner.
The Fleet were good value and they continued to knock the ball about in the second half, Cumbers in particular standing out with a good touch and presence of mind, despite the sometimes over-physical attentions of former Fleet one-game wonder Adam Tann. But both sides pressed home their forward play in an entertaining second half, Histon twice going close when Charles gave the ball away to Barker and his chip into Josh Simpson had Cronin scrambling to clear with his legs. Minutes later, Nathaniel Knight-Percival skipped through the Fleet defence but again Cronin was able to repel the threat.
Ricky Shakes replaced the somewhat unfortunate Magno Vieira on 62 minutes and though the Fleet were causing problems with Ishmael Welsh out wide, the home side were well-marshalled by Gareth Gwillim, who showed his class on 67 minutes, blocking Kane Wills in the box as the Fleet youngster had sight of goal.
Jamie Forshaw followed Shakes onto the pitch but the substitutions failed to have the desired effect as the Fleet looked increasingly toothless in the final quarter. Sure enough, as Histon found more room down the left wing, they profited from that area on 83 minutes, the hard-working Knight-Percival getting clear of Dean Pooley to cross into the middle where Simpson barely had to break stride to convert an easy chance.
The visitors couldn’t muster a response and Liam Daish must wish never to see Histon again as Fleet succumbed for the fifth time in a row to a Stutes side they have never won a point against in the Conference.
TEAM: Cronin, Pooley, Salmon, Crooks, Charles, Heeroo (Ginty 85), Wills, Welsh (Forshaw 75), Bailey, Vieira (Shakes 62), Cumbers. Subs not used: Shulton, Abbey.
Att: 647
