At 3-0 down after 20 minutes even the Woodbridge supporters sensed that they could be on the receiving end of a similar result against a Histon side who fielded as many as nine players who have appeared in the first team this season.

The Woodpeckers seemed in awe of their opponents in the early stages, but once they got a foothold in the game the visitors restored some pride and were still in with a shout of snatching the most unlikely of points until 10 minutes from time.

The experience gleaned from playing against such good players will only serve to benefit Woodbridge's youngsters in the long run and will have opened a few eyes as to the standard required if they wish to aspire to the upper echelons of the non-league game.

Histon stunned Woodbridge by scoring inside the first minute when Jack Midson volleyed home as the defence stood motionless after Jamie Barker had headed down a long throw into his path.

Matthew Haniver tapped home in the 16th minute after Adrian Cambridge's run in behind the defence went unchecked and he squared the ball to him. Haniver then turned provider, heading back across goal four minutes later for Barker to volley home.

Woodbridge scored arguably the best goal of the night after 35 minutes when Ben Seaman, playing as a lone central striker, made a surging run down the right wing and squared to Luke Read who helped it on to the unmarked Paul Hart who sidefooted home.

Woodbridge pulled another goal back four minutes into the second half when Ben Garnham's through ball sent Seaman scurrying clear and although Lance Key saved his shot low down to his left, Aaron Churchyard reacted quickest to score from the rebound. Could the Woodpeckers really score again and salvage a draw against the odds?

The answer was an emphatic 'no' as Histon continued to dominate the match and time and time again Marcus Garnham stood between them and a goal fest. To say he made at least 10 noteworthy saves, including several one-on-ones, is no exaggeration as Woodbridge's back line struggled to cope with the pace and movement of Midson and Neil Kennedy.

The fourth goal the home team had threatened for so long eventually arrived with just nine minutes remaining when Barker volleyed home a right wing cross to settle the outcome.
 

Woodbridge Town: Marcus Garnham, Aaron Churchyard, Grant Monaghan, Ben Garnham (sub Sean Rea 62 mins), Stefan Marsh, Ben Miller (sub David Kempson 82 mins), Luke Read, Paul Hart, Ben Seaman, Jamie Scales, Arran Sheppard (sub Craig Jennings 62 mins).