Report
We arrived at the impressive new stadium fully aware of the stern task that awaited the team on this the first away game of the season. The Daniels got off to a good start with an away win against newcomers Harborough Town. Our home defeat against Bromsgrove Sporting was somewhat chastening, reminding us that we will face strong teams on a weekly basis. Stamford are one of the promotion hopefuls and have a decent set up that could accommodate the requirements of playing at a higher level.
There was an immediate change to the Hitchin team, with Lewis Franklin replacing Rio Deall, presumably owing to an injury in the warm-up. We also had news that Shane Bush will be out for some time, having dislocated his shoulder in the Bromsgrove game.
Pressed to defend, Hitchin conceded a free kick deep in their half, and this actually ended up with a back pass to the goalie.There was a scare when a pass, intended as a clearance, fell short and the Hitchin defender thus played everyone on side but, at the second attempt James Callan cleared things up.
The next home attempt was a shot from Harry Vince that brought a corner, which eventually went for a goal kick. In the stand behind the goal there was some good vocal support for the Daniels. Any chances or half chances that came Hitchin’s way were from long balls.
There was one constructed move that brought a first corner for Hitchin and a wild but inaccurate punt on goal from Lewis Barker. At the other end there was a mild shot from Robert Morgan. Then Hitchin were awarded a disputed free kick that looked inviting. Franklin hit it straight at keeper Thomas Jackson and then Oliver Clark hit one wide on the run for the Daniels, followed by another wayward effort.
We had played twenty minutes band the Canaries in purple had contained the opposition fairly well but needed to pose a greater threat up front. Clark had his intended shot deflected for a corner and this was adequately defended. Sears provided a good intervention at the next attack and the home pressure was steadily increasing.
Most of the passing football could be credited to the hosts and we waited for Hitchin to match this, it proving to be difficult as they were allowed no time on the ball. More goal attempts were thwarted by Hitchin. Kpapke bustled and won a corner which was headed over the bar by Sears. Glennon’s free kick was defended and then the home keeper was cautioned for an infraction, conceding a free kick and incurring the wrath of the vocal youngsters behind the goal who then cheered when Jackson held the free kick.
Then Kpapke received a caution, and Callan also held the free kick. We were ten minutes from the interval and the Canaries were withstanding the pressure with a combination of skill and luck. Chitiza had a fine moment, but his shot was wide of the target. Winning possession was one thing, retaining it was another. Then Hitchin conceded a penalty, with Barker guilty of a handball.
This was taken successfully by Robert Morgan, and it cannot be denied that the hosts deserved this given their possession and pressure. There had yet to be a meaningful assault on goal from open play from Hitchin.
However, the consensus was that there was an overall improvement from Saturday’s game, and incidentally, we heard that our opponents then were three down at home to Stratford Town. We resumed and saw a wasted Hitchin assault along the left. A better chance came soon after but was met well by the home defence. Hitchin won a corner in this good spell, but Stamford soon turned defence into attack and Morgan’s final cross was deflected into the waiting arms of Callan.
There was a belief about Hitchin now and Kpapke’s cross drew a fine header from Wilson and a decent save from Thomas. This momentum was important and needed to be kept in place but, in a snap attack the hosts doubled their advantage with a virtual tap in from Tendai Chitiza.
This goal came at fifty-four minutes. Then another snap attack was foiled by Hitchin whose Coree Wilson had a wayward effort. Matters came to a halt whilst the referee lectured two home players. Some scrappy moments followed whilst Marzano was reprimanded for what seemed to be ungentlemanly conduct.
A third goal looked certain when home substitute Liversidge pounced on a loose ball close to the goal, but Callan was the quicker. Hitchin substitute Toby Syme was soon in action and Mariano’s dinged ball was easy for the busy Hitchin keeper. His counterpart then committed a faux pas of such magnitude he only just prevented an own goal. It was a back pass but not a controlled one, which was, presumably, the referee’s interpretation.
The corner was delayed as Forbes was intent on debating what was probably a finer point in that previous episode. Jones was booked for what looked like dissent. There was about a quarter of an hour to go, and Rolfe replaced Vincent.
The ball was just not falling for Hitchin who vainly sought an inroad to goal. One chance came from a free kick on the left, but this was beaten away and Callan held a fair free kick at the other end. Two fair attacks came from Hitchin but were rebuffed as the referee indicated an extra six minutes.
Callan prevented a third goal with a notable save, but the remainder of stoppage time saw nothing spectacular except a Hitchin free kick just outside the area and this was deflected for a corner. The full -time whistle followed this last bit of action.
We may console ourselves that the second half produced a positive performance without the slice of luck that can make a big difference. The improvement ought to keep apace with the experience and this may be manifested at Telford on Saturday. The Shropshire side lost 1-5 against Stourbridge who top the league whilst Hitchin prop up the rest.
Early days indeed but we hope to get something from this difficult start to the season. Had we received more than just a corner from the home keeper’s error we may well have narrowed the losing margin, but as I have said, we had no slice of luck tonight and as Brett Donnelly said – two mistakes cost us.
STAMFORD
Thomas Jackson, cautioned, Charlie Marzano, Jordan Cooke, Harry Vince, ( Michael Armstrong), William Glennon, James Blunden, Tendai Chitiza, GOAL, 53 minutes, 2-0, man of the match, (Thomas Siddons, cautioned ), Robert Morgan, captain, PENALTY GOAL, 1-0, 43 minutes, Jack Duffy, (Joe Burgess), Lee Shaw, (Tobias Liversidge),Oliver Clark, (Jon Challinor). All substitutes used.
HITCHIN TOWN
James Callan, Lewis Franklin, (Toby Syme), Alex Kpapke, cautioned, Lewis Barker, Daniel Sears, cautioned, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, Jack Dreyer, Kieron Forbes, Connor Vincent, (Jay Rolfe), Coree Wilson, Harry Titchmarsh. Substitutes not used- Fernando Bell-Toxtle, Rio Deall, Joshua Keane Quinlivan.
Referee – Mr A Wilson, assisted by Mr E Vadja and Mr R Holland.
Attendance 394
REPORT BY PIPEMAN