Report
Heavy rain preceded this fixture as we welcomed back old adversaries Bishop’s Stortford, who recently played at Top Field against Bedford Town as the Bedfordshire club’s artificial pitch was not yet ready. Stortford, before tonight’s match had two wins, two draws and two defeats from their six league games. Hitchin, of course, were anxious to shed their unwanted one hundred per cent record.
There were starts for both Rio Deall and Daniel Stokoe I do believe that Cole Dasilva in the Stortford team is the brother of our former player Rio, who later went to Kempston Rovers.
An early Hitchin free kick was dealt with by the Stortford defence who were kept busy for the opening minutes, which was a good sign. Morrall’s incursion into the penalty area was suggestive until his intended pass that sailed majestically out of play.
Then, in a forward move that looked innocuous, saw a pass to an unmarked Bradley Russell who had plenty of time to size matters up and he hooked the ball beyond Kyle Forster with consummate ease. It did not ease matters to observe that this was the visitors first attack of some significance. Only eight minutes had expired, and the goal was greeted fulsomely by the travelling supporters.
It did little for the home team’s confidence and the visitors capitalised on the general gloom. A Stortford appeal for a penalty was dismissed in favour of a corner and this brought a second goal, after some unintentional defensive misdemeanours and Ryan Charles netted from close range following the cross, and only a quarter of an hour had stuttered by.
An attempt at a Hitchin attack was brought to a halt for a Stortford free kick and back went the ball into Hitchin’s defensive half. Dasilva was allowed to run in possession and this attempt was foiled. Ciaren Jones tried a long diagonal pass that was neatly intercepted, as was the next lukewarm effort.
Barker’s slick pass to Morrall did bring a corner and a creditable shot on goal from Stokoe. Then, with a fine pass coming in, Morrall neatly reduced errors with a header after twenty- six minutes. It lifted spirits and home supporters behind the goal extolled the quality and stature of the team with the accustomed exaggeration. We did have plenty to cheer about.
It showed we could score and with some forethought in attack with ample reward. A free kick almost fell to Morrall, and Hitchin attempted to maintain the rejuvenation. Morrall, seemingly on fire, ran in possession and unleashed a shot on the move that was just off target. This was a good spell for Hitchin, now playing their best since the Telford match.
Stortford tried to deaden the pace, and they defended with some precision. Deall’s cross was deflected out of harm’s way and Dreyer’s attempt was off target. A Hitchin free kick was left to Forster, and it was a good one, but Dasilva cleared the danger. Morrall was menacing with his perceptive play and Gleeson tried one from range that was only just over the bar.
Gaps were left and Forster was called upon to make a fine save from a blistering shot that went for a corner. An equaliser before half time was no doubt the desire of the team and Stokoe earned himself detention and a hundred lines for his patent dive and a booking for simulation. Not the way to do it, really. Hitchin battled on, but Stortford were wily and opportunistic. Coree Wilson ran out of pitch trying to connect with a through ball and that elusive equaliser needed to be achieved in the single minute added on to this red-blooded half of decent football. It did not come.
Could the hosts continue in this rich vein of play n the second period? If they could then this game could yield the first point or even points of the season. Play was halted when Gleeson was booked for a foul on scorer Bradley Russell who was replaced by Rashawn Scott. But we resumed with Hitchin snapping at heels to obtain possession. Another gap at the back needed careful defending, but clearances suffered for a want in accuracy.
Titchmarsh replaced Gleeson and Franklin attempted a cross that was intercepted. There were further bookings for some scrappy challenges but in a breakaway move Kian Harness held his head in disbelief when his low shot missed the target when all in the ground was expecting it to be the visitors’ third goal. But gaps at the back – care was needed here.
Goalkeeper Binns distinguished himself with two successive saves, one with his feet and the other a decent catch. The next Hitchin attack was foiled with some skill, but still the yellows pushed forward, and errors were excused with tetchy sounds. Barker was cautioned for a spoiling foul on Scott. Dasilva’s free kick was defended, but the visitors nicked a corner, and Castle had a shot that was deflected for another.
Warner-Eley was cautioned for a spoiling foul and sported the usual who me ref? face. Brooks replaced Deall and it was clear that Hitchin would fight to the last minute. Binns again made two successive saves, and it was just sheer bad luck that the hosts had been thwarted in trying to draw level.
A Hitchin free kick on the right was sent in by Franklin but the ball was cleared somehow and then the visitors made another substitution, just as they had a player booked for delaying the restart of play. A corner came the way of Stortford and Haine’s header landed on the roof of the net. Their next effort was negligible, but we wanted Hitchin to get the ball forward and to pester the away defence into an error. But they stood firm and countered, winning a corner in the process.
But Brooks, in trying to capitalise on a goalkeeping error really ought to have scored with such a chance. Binns recovered well. Then Forster denied Roberts who will feel he should have scored, and if nothing else this match did not lack excitement.
Forster’s punt up field ended in a scrappy challenge and a free kick for Stortford. Moments of skill were mingled with unforced errors as we came to the concluding minutes of this splendid game. Hitchin pushed and faced stubborn resistance, and we cannot fault them for effort. The next attack was over elaborate and fizzled out.
Stokoe’s fine shot was well saved by Binns and the resultant corner saw the equaliser almost snatched, and Dreyer saw his effort saved. Then there was a reasonable appeal for a penalty was dismissed and I am not sure if the referee booked anyone for alleged simulation. I found out later that Liam Brooks received the card. There was no shortage of comments from both players and spectators. In a melee of players the yellow card was twice brandished, but I do not know who was cautioned. I would wait for the referee’s crime sheet after the game. This was given to our secretary, so I am not sure of all the cautions, especially in the melee.
As is often the case, decisions went against Hitchin, legitimately so, but home supporters were still hoping for something like a free kick even a legitimate penalty. Hitchin did not deserve to lose this game, but the statistics are cold and heartless and thus a seventh successive defeat in the league is, after the last two games, hard to take as we deserved a draw in both. When you are in the basement, no light comes through.
But, we can take much from this; the team played like a consolidated unit, it showed gumption and spirit and although the genuine commiserations we received from both away supporters and directors may be seen as cold comfort, yet it was at least recognition that the Hitchin team is beginning to show the kind of playing form we want to see.
The game had a total of ten cautions, six for Hitchin which brings a sharp financial rap on the knuckles from the League. As far as the second half claim for a penalty, well, the referee said that Liam Brooks dived and there was no contact. He added that if there were video evidence to the contrary then he would apologise. The result, however, stares us in the face and for some there was a burning sense of injustice as the penalty claim was dismissed.
Of course, we must move on, and the next game is a tough away fixture at Halesowen, where, famously, our former goalkeeper, Charlie Horlock scored in our hard-fought win. Maybe history will repeat itself.
HITCHIN TOWN
Forster, Franklin, Jones, captain, Gleeson, cautioned, (Titchmarsh), Sears, Barker, cautioned, Morrall, GOAL, 1-2, 25 minutes, this reporter’s Man of the Match, Dreyer, Wilson, cautioned, Stokoe, cautioned, Deall, (Brooks). Substitutes not used – Syme, Rolfe, Keane.
BISHOP’S STORTFORD
Binns, opposition star man, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, cautioned, Oluwatimilehin, (Moutawafiq), Thompson, Haines, Castle, (Virciglio), Harness, Russell, GOAL, 0-1, 8 minutes, (Scott), Charles, GOAL, 0-2, 15 minutes, (Roberts), Amu. Substitutes not used – Ogwuazor.
Referee, Mr J Crossley, assisted by Mr T Burns and Mr M Basterfield.
Attendance 378.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN