IT had been billed as the title decider since the turn of the year when it became apparent that Salisbury City and Histon would be the two teams most likely to secure automatic promotion to the Conference.

But with the visitors ten points clear at the top of the Conference South following City's March nightmare, Monday's Bank Holiday clash served only to confirm Histon as the champions.

While 3-0 did indeed flatter the Cambridgeshire side after a solid opening 45 minutes by the hosts, Histon were ultimately worthy victors, grinding out a result in the way that true champions do.

Whites needed to win the contest and hope Histon slipped up in their remaining fixtures if they were to have any chance of still securing back-to-back titles, and as they pressed forward in the opening stages, those slim hopes did indeed still linger.

As early as the fourth minute City had the home supporters among a season's best Conference South attendance of 1,784, believing it would indeed be their day.

Matt Robinson and Matt Tubbs worked well to present Robinson with an opening to cross for Robbie Matthews. However, the striker's tame header was no test of Histon goalkeeper Lance Key.

The Stutes were content to soak up the City pressure, but always had an eye for a quick break, and Ryan Clarke had to be alert four minutes later to superbly finger-tip Erkan Okay's effort over.

Matthews just failed to connect with Tubbs' 20th minute cross and moments later Tubbs turned two markers inside out, following a neat ball from Jon Besweth-erick, but then couldn't quite get the purchase on it required to beat Key.

It was all City as a solid Matthews knock-down to Luke Prince was blasted left of the target by the midfielder, who struggled to keep his balance.

Whites began to turn on the style and great control by Michael Fowler sparked a lively move involving Matt Holmes, Matthews and Tubbs, but which again ended with Key untested.

The Histon custodian just got the better of Matthews on 36 minutes after another flowing move involving the striker, Robinson and Prince.

Seconds later Prince left his marker standing but dragged his shot right of the goal.

City went route one on 39 minutes - Clarke's long kick was won at the second time of asking by Matthews, who directed the ball into the path of Tubbs. This time the diminutive striker unleashed a cracking shot which Key did well to hold.

Salisbury's pressure should have been rewarded with a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Tubbs, at least three feet inside the Histon box, was pushed in the back. However, Hoo referee Ian Cooper gave a free kick just outside the penalty area.

Beswetherick drilled the ball through the three-man wall but Key, diving low, again saved comfortably.

In the dying seconds of the half, City had half a shout for handball when Matthews and Tubbs fought for the ball from Scott Bartlett's long throw, but Cooper was having none of it.

The final action of the half saw Tubbs fire the ball across the goalmouth only for it to be cleared for a corner. The striker's spectacular overhead kick sailing over the bar from the resultant cross.

While the opening 45 minutes had brought waves of optimism, the second proved heartbreaking for City fans as their side, caught cold inside two minutes of the restart, tried to comprehend how they then conceded three goals in ten minutes.

Histon's Robbie Nightingale got the final touch as the ball trickled over the line from Adrian Cam-bridge's 47th minute corner that City had failed to clear.

Three minutes later, Antonio Murray's tame header somehow crept under Clarke for Histon's second, and as the travelling supporters began to celebrate automatic promotion, Roscoe Hipperson headed in a third after Cambridge had delivered the ball back into the danger area following another half-cleared corner.

City may have had their chances in the first half, but Histon's clinical finishing in the second ensured they went home with the three points and the title.