MICHAEL Carr rose from his sick bed to lead Vics into the last eight of the FA Trophy.

The midfield metronome was on hand to remedy his team's ills, turning scorer and supplier to inspire a recovery that seemed out of the question before the break.

Aptly Vics were at their Jekyll and Hyde best.

Carr, laid low by a virus all week, smuggled a leveller with his first touch before crafting Paul Brayson's 70th minute winner. That Steve Burr's men missed yet another penalty - their fifth spot kick blunder of the season - is a discussion for another day.

That they were still in this game at half time was more of a mystery.

Vics changed their formation, playing three central midfielders, and Histon cashed in on the confusion.

Adrian Cambridge and Matthew Langston both went close before Jamie Barker's vicious volley flashed inches wide of Ben Connett's far post.

The visitors' first attempt arrived on the quarter hour - James Beaumont's effort proving no problem for keeper Lance Key after Paul Brayson, Kevin Townson and Danny Mayman combined to conjure a shooting space.

But they should have scored five minutes later.

Key's calamitous attempt to kick away Richard Battersby's pass put Brayson clear, but his bid to square to Townson was spotted by Matthew Mitchell-King.

Histon resumed control thereafter, Antonio Murray's cross squirting across the goalmouth beyond Connett but Neil Kennedy could not stretch far enough to push the ball over the line, then Vics' custodian reacted brilliantly to paw the same player's header clear from the bottom corner.

Matthew Haniver curved a free kick on to the top of the crossbar before the Stutes got the goal their dominance deserved.

Connett's dreadful goalkick found Neil Kennedy via Barker, whose centre was smashed home by Murray.

Histon hadn't banked on a Carr masterclass though.

Within 120 seconds he had diverted Paul Brayson's shot past Key following Mayman's corner. Whether he knew much about it mattered little to Vics' travelling throng behind the goal.

Histon continued to push forward, but their attacks lacked the cohesion seen in the first half.

Stuart Elliott fluffed a clearance to leave Barker in space, but Murray spooned his attempted lob over the bar with Connett stranded.

Vics' keeper made another stunning save to deny Neil Kennedy on the hour and, when Murray seemed certain to score from the rebound, Andy Smart cleared off the line.

Gareth Griffiths, flawless throughout, then threw himself in the path of another goalbound effort from Kennedy.

Carr's perfect pass sent Brayson clear and he coolly lifted the ball over Key and nodded it over the line.

Adrian Cambridge was sent off for a second yellow card offence, slapping Brayson's cross away from Townson shortly after being booked for dissent.

Key flopped onto Townson's limp spot kick with glee.

Connett's miraculous stop to deny Barker with the final touch of the match kept their Wembley dream intact.