Manager Ollie Drake ruled Godmanchester Rovers out of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division title race after seeing them succumb to the table-toppers for the second time this season.

Rovers were beaten 3-1 at pacesetters Histon last Friday after also falling to defeat by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture back in August.

All the goals arrived in the second half of their latest clash with Histon hitting the front from the penalty spot just before the hour after Ross Munro had handled.

Rovers responded quickly as a stunning strike from Charlie Bowen – a player described as being ‘head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch’ by boss Drake – restored parity.

Jack Chandler and Munro both went close to then putting Rovers ahead, but it was the hosts who struck again through Matt Green with 20 minutes to go and Histon’s success was sealed by Dan Brown late on.

“Being beaten by Histon again is very disappointing,” admitted Drake. “I felt a draw would have been a fair result, but the only thing that matters in a game of senior football is the score at the end of the game.

“We failed to take a couple of decent chances at 1-1 and I felt we would have gone on to win if able to go ahead but, when I look back on the game, Histon created more chances than us, Histon were more clinical than us and they probably defended better than us as well.

“Histon also had a couple of key players missing and it was a big opportunity for us to pick up a great result and we squandered it.

“I hold my hands up for perhaps not quite putting together the correct gameplan and giving the lads quite enough detail on what I expected from them in certain situations.

“However, we have a team full of experienced players and they didn’t quite show the responsibility I expect of them when crossing that white line.

“All three of the Histon goals were as a result of pieces of naïve defending on our part but, having said that, they are the best side we’ve faced and I fully expect them to go on win the title.”

Rovers now attempt to complete a double of their own over another set of Premier Division title contenders when travelling to Stowmarket this Saturday.

They produced a thrilling comeback to beat the big-spending Suffolk side 3-2 at the David Wilson Homes Ground last month.

Drake has snapped up Mildenhall Town defender Joe Walker on loan for a month. He was due to make his debut last night (Tuesday) when Rovers were scheduled to host Walsham-le-Willows in the opening round of the League Challenge Cup.