Report
Rain greeted our arrival at The Grove, an old-fashioned stadium – and I mean that as a compliment. Of course, I cannot avoid mentioning our last visit, which was notable not only for our win, but the fact that Charlie Horlock, our goalkeeper then, not only scored a goal, but saved a penalty. We remember too, the yells from the Yeltz supporters, surely the most vocal in the division.
Things were different today, where we looked anxiously to see whether our plight was not irremediable, given the fact that we have notched up zero points out of a possible twenty-one in a chastening league campaign so far. We needed a flash of inspiration was my thought as flashes of lightning were discernible. These were indeed forthcoming.
Team news for Hitchin had added interest as there were three new additions to the squad listed among the substitutes. These were Bradley Dixon –Smith, Joshua Chidyausiku, and Reon Smith- Kouassi, the last named, I believe, is on loan from Leyton Orient. Another loan player, Connor Roberts made a start.
It brightened up before the kickoff, but the rain still persisted for the time being. Spectators trickled onto the open terracing in optimistic fashion. The drumbeats started and off we went with an immediate attack from the Yeltz and then, at the other end a mild shot from George Morrall. Then Manning received a good diagonal long pass after some nice one touch football, but an infringement occurred, and Hitchin had the free kick.
Morrall was set free for a golden opportunity, but he fired right at the keeper, but, hold on, from this fifth minute corner, Lewis Barker gave the Canaries a surprise lead with a bullet of a header, and Coree Wilson could feasibly have made it two, after hoodwinking goalkeeper Platt, but it was side- netting. This was a more than promising start. Then there was a free kick, from the right for Hitchin and Franklin’s effort was a token one.
It was fully expected that the Yeltz would lay siege to the Hitchin goal, but this was not the case as the visitors produced more half chances and the hosts looked oddly innocuous in attack. Then in another well worked attack, Hitchin, incredibly, extended their lead, with Rio Deall finishing the move smartly. Only fourteen minutes had been played and Hitchin were indeed worthy of their lead and had looked good.
Another cross saw Dreyer head over the bar. Halesowen had a free kick deep in the Hitchin half, taken by Tee which produced a reasonable but inconclusive effort. Wilson really ought to have made it three in the next Hitchin attack but dwelt too long on the ball but then there was another free kick from the right that was defended, but not that convincingly.
Manning manfully tried to stonewall his way through the Hitchin defence, but they would have none of it. Some pretty passing football from the hosts was rudely interrupted by a spoiling Hitchin boot as was Yussuf’s creditable effort. The hosts bagged more possession for themselves but seemed to lose it just as easily. A home free kick, fussed over by Yussuf just went for a goal kick.
Wilson tried a neat attacking pass that fell short and activated a home attack that again fell short of ideal completion. Wollacott’s forward run and shot saw the effort go well wide, but Hitchin had lost a bit of edge. They were prone to conceding free kicks as well. Cassidy sent one in, but it was just a routine catch for Forster.
Wilson broke away in attack, was impeded and won a fortuitous free kick. Morrall sent this in, but it was a poor one, easily dealt with. The next Hitchin attack had a degree of relative sophistication about it, but it was foiled, nevertheless. Wilson had a shot following a loss of home possession, but it was easy for Platt, and we were about five minutes from the interval.
There is no doubt that those checking current scores around the division would remark on Hitchin’s progress hitherto, with eyebrows discreetly raised. But too many free kicks were being given away to make this comfortable. Even so, Wilson somehow spurned an opportunity to make it three in stoppage time and Forster had to make a decent save right after this.
But Hitchin took this valuable lead to the interval and were worth it. Halesowen made a second substitution and the home supporters, somewhat subdued so far began in good voice and with the drum accompaniment. But their team was still struggling to match that vibrant rhythm indeed we were treated to a third Hitchin goal following their first foray in the forty-eighth minute. George Morrall tucked home a fine cross from the right. We were incredulous but grateful, and the finishing had been noteworthy.
Following an unsuccessful home free kick there was another good chance for Hitchin. The home supporters’ noise did not diminish, which is usual for them, and they even had a bit of spiked humour, singing that Hitchin were not that good as it was only three- nil. There was a free kick for the visitors from the right, taken by Morrall and Jones’ header was just a hopeful one.
The Yeltz had seemingly abandoned their pass and move style for a more direct approach which Hitchin were happy to match. Play was halted for treatment to Deall, used by the Yeltz for some exhortation among themselves. Deall was then replaced by Stokoe. I would like to have seen a bit more style with clearances and a bit less of the play that felled Franklin and also the hostile reaction that saw Sears fortunate just to receive a yellow card. Franklin hobbled off to be replaced by new boy Dixon- Smith. Donnelly was booked for the hosts.
Sears showed some legitimate aggression in defence, and Forster distinguished himself with a fine save. Boothe replaced Yussuf and home fans, in choral attitude, made unsubtle references to Kyle Forster’s alleged embonpoint, which he took in good grace.
This was before Hitchin came within a whisker of adding a fourth where a touch would have finished the job. This was not an entirely an isolated incident.
Parker’s shot, saved by Forster evinced a chorus of ‘we’ve had a shot’, ironically referencing the lack of home bite. Another decent chance for Hitchin was forsaken with too much time taken on the ball. Gleeson replaced Barker in a like for like exchange. Donnelly was denied by good defending, but the hosts were pressing with a bit of hope when Forster spilled the ball following a save.
Chidyausiku replaced Wilson for the concluding ten minutes, and he was straightaway involved. Manning’s free kick could have been converted instead of being missed in almost comical fashion. Another elaborate attack following a free kick, saw Forster in commanding poise,
Halesowen often spoiled their own chances with rudimentary errors in passing and were caught offside more than once. Five additional minutes were tacked on as Chidyausiku was caught offside. Then with an empty net beckoning, it was Chidyausiku who twisted the knife with the fourth goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. He becomes yet another player to score on his debut.
This was without doubt a superb and deserved win with a team performance to be proud of. The first points of the season were garnered in emphatic style and the only complaint is that Hitchin did not win by a greater margin and that is not an exaggeration.
With Royston away on Tuesday it is tempting to evoke the saying that one swallow doth not a summer make, but this dramatic change of fortune and with such panache should not be underestimated. The balance was right and so were the substitutions. A renaissance is possible but there is a lot of ground to be made up.
But there are reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three and four, with this handsome win joining the ranks of the victories in the past by the same score away at Peterborough Sports and Kettering Town. We do not want this as a one-off, or to be seen as a fluke, with the hosts having an off day. They were outplayed and it is a shame that we cannot be granted an extra couple of points for artistic interpretation.
So, a second successive win at The Grove and once again I have been asked to point out the sportsmanship of the home supporters who readily acknowledged Hitchin’s notable win today.
HALESOWEN TOWN
Platt, home supporters’ man of the match, Cassidy, (Hickman), Kelly, (Mitchell), Smile, Wynter, Captain, Wollacott, Parker, Tee, (Holmes), Yussuf, ( Boothe), Donnelly, cautioned, Manning. Substitute not used – Wood.
HITCHIN TOWN
Forster, Franklin, ( Dixon- Smith), Jones, Captain, Barker, GOAL, 4 minutes, 0-1, ( Gleeson), Sears, cautioned, Roberts, cautioned, this reporter’s Hitchin star man, Titchmarsh, Dreyer, Wilson, (Chidyausiku, GOAL, 90+3 minutes 0-4), Morrall, GOAL, 48 minutes,0-3, ( Smith- Kouassi), Deall, GOAL, 0-2, 14 minutes, ( Stokoe). All substitutes used.
Referee- Mr B Scott, assisted by Mr J Hodgson and Mr R Davies.
Attendance 716
REPORT BY PIPEMAN