Thetford finished an excellent week with a 1-0 victory at promotion-chasing Histon.

Thetford finished an excellent week with a 1-0 victory at promotion-chasing Histon.

As recently as 2011 Histon were just one division below the Football League, but, beset by financial problems, the club has rapidly dropped down the non league pyramid.

Now, on a better financial footing, they have enjoyed a good season, sitting fourth in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

It looked like being a tough afternoon for the Brecklanders, but a 20th-minute Andrew Wood goal and a resolute defensive effort was enough to give Thetford a hard fought win, to follow up Tuesday night's victory over Stanway Rovers which sealed a League Cup final place.

Thetford were the better side in the first half, and showed the strength in depth the club possesses as top scorer Max Melanson and talented wideman Ben Anderson were not fit to start – player-manager Danny White, giving himself a rare start, was a calm, controlling influence at the base of the midfield.

Valter Rocha's silky feet were easy on the eye all afternoon and it was the forward who created Thetford's winner. Rocha broke inside the Histon penalty area and picked out Wood, who was afforded time and space and from 10 yards out rifled the ball past Sam Roach in the Histon goal.

Bradley Sandell came close to increasing Thetford's lead. After a neat link-up with Ross Bailey, from just inside the area Sandell volleyed an effort which forced Roach to stretch to his right to save.

Histon, who went into the game with just one defeat in 13 games since the Christmas period, were increasingly reduced to launching long balls looking to get in behind the Town defence. Elliot Smith, normally a central midfielder, stepped back to the centre of defence with ease, displaying strength and composure on the ball.

As the half reached its conclusion Rocha saw a fine effort with the outside of his boot curl just wide from 30 yards out.

Thetford struggled to get back into their groove in the second half and found themselves pinned in their own half for long periods. Town failed to clear a ball played in behind the defence which Histon forward Rolph latched onto, his low shot from 10 yards out needed a good save with his legs from Will Viner in Thetford's goal.

For all their territorial advantage Histon lacked a creative spark, and their best chances were coming from set pieces or crosses out wide.

Joe Sutton nearly caught Thetford out as his low corner directly struck the post, and Rolph should have drawn his side level but unmarked seven yards out could not connect cleanly from Sutton's excellent cross.

With no fit substitutes, Town were unable to bring on any fresh legs which made their galliant defensive effort all the more impressive.

Much to the frustration of the home crowd, Histon had a goal disallowed in the last minute. Dan Brown's fierce strike beat Viner but was he was ruled to be in an offside position.

Thetford will look to maintain their good form when they host Brantham Athletic on Saturday, a dress rehearsal for the League Cup final on May 7.