Stevenage 1-0 Histon

Graham Westley's Stevenage have not lost at home in the league this season

Stevenage moved four points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier thanks to a narrow win over Histon.

Jon Ashton's first-half strike was enough to seal the points, the defender side-footing Stacy Long's near-post corner into the top of the net.

But it was far from convincing by the league leaders, who never hit top form.

And they almost paid late on when Andy Pugh's shot flew the wrong side of the post before Chris Day turned Nathaniel Knight-Percival's attempt over the bar.

Yet, with promotion rivals Oxford not playing, it was all about the result for Stevenage.

And although the performance was far from impressive, keeping a fifth successive league clean sheet provided the foundations for Borough to open up daylight between themselves and the U's, who have a game in hand, in the race for promotion to the Football League.

They had chances to extend their lead through Long and Chris Beardsley, who headed wide from a corner.

But Stevenage never threatened a repeat of the heights they hit in Saturday's 5-1 FA Trophy semi-final, first leg win over Kidderminster.

Indeed, Graham Westley's side could not have complained if Histon had grabbed a late point, with Knight-Percival going closest to grabbing an equaliser.

Stevenage: Day, Henry, Ashton, Roberts, Laird, Long (Drury 72), Murphy (Sills 53), Bridges, Cole, Odubade, Beardsley (Byrom 53).
Subs Not Used: Bayes, Albrighton.

Booked: Long.

Goals: Ashton 18.

Histon: Knight, Okay (Oyebanjo 12), Bygrave, Tann, Gwillim, Smith, Southam, Knight-Percival, Sparkes, Sheringham, Pugh.
Subs Not Used: Key, Tidswell, Stewart, York.

Booked: Southam, Bygrave.

Att: 2,407.

Ref: Michael Bull (Essex).