Report
Hitchin, buoyed by the emphatic win at Halesowen, travelled to Garden Walk for what is often seen as a derby, but in reality, is a meeting with two clubs who enjoy mutual respect and there is is no crowing about the result (and no canarying either). Even so, the statistics show that our Hertfordshire neighbours have a superior record, with eleven wins, one draw and five losses. Tonight would be a good time to improve in that.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hitchin manager Brett Donnelly named an unchanged team after Saturday’s win. The pitch at Garden Walk was unaffected by the recent heavy rain that saw the High Street in my town turned into a virtual river. Of interest to Hitchin supporters was the inclusion in the Crows’ lineup of Josh Coldicott- Stevens, who was a notable player at Hitchin Town.
We began with a shot from Titchmarsh and then a free kick for Royston which was taken by James Brighton who hit it low and firm and it deceived Kyle Forster and thus the Crows took an early lead from this successful set piece. We had played just two minutes. Then in an attack for Hitchin Jack Dreyer’s snap effort rebounded off the top of the crossbar. There was a feeling that this game had more goals in it. Even so, it was a poor goal to concede so early on and Forster will feel he might well have prevented it.
A corner for the Crows sailed in and Forster at first dropped the catch but recovered quickly. Then there was an on target shot from Titchmarsh and a corner for Hitchin, taken by Morrall and held by Dixon- Hodge. It was the end-to-end stuff that we all like to see.
A lovely ball forward from Connor Roberts set up a decent attack spoiled by the final pass, and a good free kick from Coldicott- Stevens was successfully defended. A header from Royston’s Charlie Johnson drew a good save and then a dismissed penalty appeal from the follow-up and then, Royston scored again, greeted enthusiastically by the young Ultras behind the goal. The scorer was Adam Murray, and the goal was timed at fifteen minutes. Indeed, this was a reality check for the Canaries who had been playing well, with attacking intent.
Royston continued to attack, and it must be said that they looked like scoring again, but not from an over hit corner, which missed all players as it rolled out of play. Hitchin’s purposeful attacking seemed put in hold as the hosts controlled proceedings for the moment. It was imperative that Hitchin hit back and reduced the arrears in this first period, but one promising attack saw Barker shoot wide.
Titchmarsh’s optimistic cross was easily grasped by Dixon- Hodge but there were further inroads by Hitchin, albeit inconclusive. A good cross saw a weak header from Wilson, but Royston had a stern defence and were rightly dismissive of a hopeful penalty appeal from the visitors.
There remained about ten minutes of the half and time enough to change the pattern. A Hitchin free kick followed a home booking, and it was a moment. Morrell’s kick was adequately defended, and the moment had gone. Then a legitimate penalty was awarded, and Wilson was selected for the spot kick. So, another moment, and Wilson was successful, restoring hope for Hitchin. The time given for the goal was forty- two minutes, and there was no significant action until the interval.
A Royston free kick was the first attacking moment at the start of the second half and the effort was snuffed out by Forster. No substitutions had been made as yet by either side. Johnson’s cross looked good initially, but the momentum was too great.
Then Dreyer was replaced by Stokoe. This came as Royston were exerting a bit of pressure. The hosts then got a free kick following some aggressive shirt pulling, but this came to nothing. Hitchin tried to get forward but were monitored at every turn, with the hosts protecting their lead.
A blistering shot from Johnson was parried by Forster and then play was halted to allow Brighton to receive some treatment. We resumed with a corner. There was good play from Deall whose blocked shot brought a corner and a blocked header from Sears.
Johnson again tried his luck and his effort all but skimmed the post. Then Wilson had a bit of luck and in advance of all players he put the ball past Dixon- Hedge to make the score what is known by the cognoscenti as a Desmond. Credit goes to Hitchin for reducing this two-goal deficit but also for looking like winning. The goal came after seventy minutes.
Royston replaced Weyman with Izecor and another poor corner was in evidence from the hosts. Hitchin attacks began to look more promising and a free kick from the left was well defended and the counter saw substitute Izekor denied by the crossbar, the ball bouncing high into the air.
There was then an incident which was eventually sorted out by the referee and an innocuous free kick followed, and on the heels of this Adam Murray was properly booked for simulation. Play was now that of dogged determination from both teams. Dixon-Hodge was quick off his line to outwit Wilson and there was a home booking before a Hitchin free kick, centrally outside the area, and Franklin put it wastefully over the bar.
There was not that much time left for such opportunities. One such came when a Hitchin back header conceded a corner, but this was headed down and wide. This turned out to be the final action and Hitchin experienced their first draw of the season, and much credit is due to them for eradicating that two-goal deficit, where it looked like they might well lose the game. It was a hard-fought point all the same and it was an entertaining game.
So, two games unbeaten and this one tonight could well have seen a late win for either side and well done to both teams for going for the winner, but credit goes to the visitors for fighting back from what appeared at the time to be one step beyond them. I must also give credit to the excellent travelling support that helped swell a good attendance for an evening match and I will not omit to mention the fine home support, where the young ultras did their best to raise the temperature with their enthusiasm for their team.
ROYSTON
Dixon-Hodge, Brighton, GOAL, 2 minutes, 1-0, Coldicott-Stevens, Murray, captain,2-0, 15, this reporter’s man of the match, cautioned, Johnson, C, Weyman, (Izekor), Akuibuine, Johnson, L,Roberts, Bulakio, Lievens, (Asafu-Adjaye). Substitutes not used – Baker, Rookard, Nassunculo.
HITCHIN TOWN
Forster, Franklin, Jones, captain, Barker, Sears, Roberts, Titchmarsh, Dreyer, (Stokoe), Wilson, TWO GOALS, Penalty, 2-1, 42 minutes, and 70 minutes, 2-2, Morrall, (Dixon-Smith), Deall. Substitutes not used – Gleeson, Chidyausiku, Smith- Kouassi.
The list of cautions is incomplete since I was unable to get a glance at the ‘crime sheet’. Apologies.
Referee- Mr C Poole, assisted by Mr R Poole and Mr D Brockwell.
Attendance 500.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN