Report
Hitchin 1 v Leiston 1
Hitchin’s record against the Suffolk side has not exactly been exemplary, but the hosts were gladdened by a home win on Saturday, which indeed prevented them from being cut adrift at the bottom. Three points for a win means that bagging a few victories could lift us clear of the dreaded ‘R’ zone and lift the spirits as well. We were seconds away from maximum points tonight after an impressive performance. Had we won we would have been off the bottom spot by a place and that would be seen as progress.
A brisk start to the game saw Hitchin make early inroads, showing a keenness to get forward, but the first real chance was ruled offside. Leiston’s first assault saw the ball lofted out of play. Stokoe looked likely until robbed of possession in the box and Brooks, attempting a cross, won a first corner for the hosts. This was an in-swinger that was cleared from the line where it had bounced awkwardly.
Wilson was marginally offside in the next foray, and Leiston calmed matters with some possession football. Hitchin won a free kick on the right and Hill was cautioned for the visitors. This set piece ended with Barker hoisting the ball well off target. Goalkeeper Johnson was the next in the book for kicking the ball away after spoiling a Hitchin move.
Another home corner followed, and the home pressure met approval but Sears heading well wide did not. An intricate Leiston move was broken down. Wilson began a move that culminated in a corner, which saw Franklin out in two crosses, as the ball came out to him from the first, but a downward header bounced up and over the bar.
I wondered if Hitchin could sustain this kind of urgency throughout the game. Sambou’s clever ball for Brooks was intercepted by Jackson and just after, the visitors win their first corner, which was followed by another. This was cleared and that was followed by the referee having a word with Brett Donnelly. With Stokoe marginally off target with the next effort, there was a brief hiatus when Ekongo replaced Brooks, the latter presumably injured.
Stokoe’s next shot, assisted by Jones was more of a stutter than an enunciation, and Johnson had to dive bravely to cut out the next chance. Sambou, also set up by Jones finished wide following a good attack. There was a bit of a scrap on the right, resulting in a free kick for Leiston, which brought a corner, and another, and would you believe, yet another. This Strizovic punched away and a shot from Deall saw Johnson make a fine save. A Hitchin corner saw the goalkeeper fouled and then an optimistic and unsuccessful strike from range by Leiston.
There were about ten minutes remaining of this half and so far, Hitchin had done all but score. Jackson’s skilful piece of defended eliminated another Hitchin chance and Fatadjo did the same when the hosts threatened with a further good move. Only one minute was added and we could only hope that the impetus had not gone.
There had been sufficient alacrity of spirit but not, methinks enough to fill a Leiston supporter’s sleep tonight with perturbations as yet. They had defended well and with patience.
The second half began with the same Hitchin aggression with a neat attack foiled and Sears gave way to Syme. Johnson made another good save. Syme sent a good ball forward which only needed a lob that did not materialise. Stokoe had a chance and was manhandled to the ground and stayed there for a while even after it was confirmed that Hitchin had been awarded a penalty kick. Wilson was the elected representative and his spot kick was unsuccessful. He fired straight at Johnson. There was a corner where a downward header was caught on the bounce by Johnson. Missing a penalty in our position is a serious business and could have consequences beyond this game.
It permitted Leiston to get back into the game a little and they might have snatched a goal had Loza been a little quicker in reaction. It was surprising how many times the Suffolk side lost possession, but they seemed to retain their composure and recover. Hitchin needed a bit more precision in the final third. Stokoe’s effort took a deflection for a corner, which Jones met with a header and Johnson finished with a save.
Two successive corners for Leiston came to nothing. A free kick for Hitchin, wide on the right had possibilities. Franklin sent it in and Syme headed just wide. Titchmarsh replaced Sambou as Leiston countered with Alexander having a blocked shot.
It seemed that the visitors looked content to take a point home and Loza failed to get a shot away cleanly and then, in a quick break there was jubilation when, after seventy- six minutes Wilson, in a solo run managed to finish well and the hosts took a deserved lead, and indeed Wilson atoned for his penalty miss earlier. It would have been better to have had a two-goal cushion, and as it happened that saved penalty made a major difference.
Both teams made more substitutions. A scuffed shot brought the visitors a corner and they had no choice but to push forward now, with about ten minutes to go. This brought another corner and a resolute clearance and a bit of drama at the other end saw a lob with Johnson off his line, but the ball landed on the roof of the net. It would have been a cheeky but welcome addition to the statistics.
It was Hitchin’s turn for a corner and Franklin sent it in and Jones’ header skimmed wide for a goal kick. There was yet to be a sign of urgency from Leiston who were quietly outwitted for the most part but they did manage a double shot, both blocked, with Hitchin determined not to give up the lead, particularly as they had been the better team throughout. Ekongo had a good go and won a corner for his efforts. This was a little nervously defended.
Titchmarsh was cautioned and Leiston messed up the free kick. Hitchin were a few minutes from victory and keeping a clean sheet, and they were well aware of this as they battled for every ball and Strizovic was forced to make a save, but from the corner Leiston snatched an equaliser, and three points seemed miserably reduced to one. This goal, by Loza came in the ninety-fifth minute. Then, a late chance with a Hitchin corner was headed away and the final whistle went.
This was indeed Hitchin’s best performance so far and they thoroughly deserved to win, but late equalisers cannot ever be ruled out and we saw one tonight. Credit goes to Leiston for their late addition to the show, but they will go home knowing they got away with one tonight.
HITCHIN
Strizovic, Franklin, Jones, Barker, (Forbes), Sears, (Syme), Roberts, Sponsors’ Man of the Match, Brooks, (Ekongo), Sambou, (Titchmarsh cautioned), Wilson, GOAL, 76 minutes, 1-0, (Chidyausiku), Stokoe, Deall. All substitutes used.
LEISTON
Johnson, cautioned, Yun, Saunders, (Manley), Jackson, opposition star man, Jarvis, Hill, cautioned, (Clements), Alexander, Fatadjo, (Armin), Quantrell, Fowkes, (Curtis), Loza, GOAL, 90+5, 1-1, Substitute not used- Batho.
Referee- Mr C Darling, assisted by Mr J Cantwell and Mr D Lander.
Attendance 378
REPORT BY PIPEMAN