Report
After the startling nature of the defeat at home at the hands of Stourbridge, Hitchin needed to reassert themselves with some urgency. The Trawler Boys returned to Top Field after an absence of a could of seasons, having been a member of the Isthmian League.
In the Hitchin starting eleven was Jhai Dhillon, who has appeared sporadically for the Canaries. There was a startling opening when Coree Wilson broke free and was onside. His effort appears to strike the post and Enoch Ekongo obliged with the finish. So, a welcome goal in the very first minute. I think such an early goal is called a Brentford.
Some will recall our recent visit to Lowestoft when the Canaries were, incredibly, two goals up in as many minutes, despite being bottom of the league. The hosts fought back to establish a Desmond, that is a two- two result.
Hitchin seemed eager for more and some attacks looked the part. There was a pleasing urgency about it all. It seemed that the Trawler Boys needed time to regain their composure. Johnson and Norman put a move together but the shot was well off target. Norman was energetic on the right and win a corner that was defended with some fragility.
Some positive activity in the Lowestoft penalty area saw a shot by Deall which was held by Yeo. Franklin’s urgent cross was too heavy and following this there was a pause for play whilst Ruffles received treatment. The resumption had some curiously languid play which irritated some spectators.
Ruffles was replaced by a substitute called Haddoch, which was singularly appropriate for a team called the Trawler Boys, who put together a decent move that finished somewhat limply.
Dhillon’s forward ball looked like causing mayhem but ended with a weak shot from Deall. Sayer’s excursion into Hitchin’s penalty area was short-lived. Dhillon’s intended cross looked more like a curling shot but Yeo held it without difficulty. A flash of inspiration from Sayer in the twenty- eighth minute saw excellent control, and a shrugging from would – be challenges to send in a fine shot that entered the net at the foot of the post.
For Hitchin, worse was to come, as Sayer made sure that the show went on and he calmly netted a second a minute after his first strike. It was a remarkable and unexpected turnaround, and a bit of a smack in the face with a bloater for the hosts, who had looked fairly comfortable and likely to hang on to their lead. Sayer had relished the freedom he ought not to have been granted.
Deall, attempting to break free, was brought down and Franklin set himself up for the free kick. Brave goalkeeping put paid to that effort. Spectators were generally quiet except our impromptu junior choir who were remarkably consistent in the first half. Those two impudent goals had taken the wind out of Hitchin’ sails and it looked more likely that the visitors would be adding to their tally, which they did, following a corner.
Barbrook was the scorer, and it was now three- one to the Trawler Boys after just forty minutes. Hitchin won a corner, which was greeted enthusiastically as it suggested a goal attempt and it was a successful header to make it three- two. The scorer was Deall, and the time was forty-three minutes. We were encouraged that we would avoid such a debacle as we witnessed on Saturday. We had seen five goals in the half and hoped that an equaliser would make up the sixth without delay and there was a late attack that was thwarted, with the whistle following straight after.
Faint hope never wins fair lady, it is said, and I must say that the second Hitchin goal did suggest a second half revival. The players went for it and Sambou’s run set up a chance, but the intended shot was blocked. Then at the other ends fine attack from Lowestoft with clever stuff from Whiteley resulted in an undisputed penalty. This was delayed as Sears was sitting on the penalty spot, receiving treatment. Sayer lined up, keen to bag his hat trick. In this he was successful, it was Sayer, forsooth, and the goal was timed at fifty- two minutes.
Hitchin’s task had thus become even more onerous, but Deall and Franklin produced a decent chance, which was defended. Persistence brought a corner for the hosts and a token song from the Fishponds end.
Then a glaring error saw a real chance for the Trawler Boys to make it a fifth, with an open goal beckoning. The ball trickled just short of the intention, so to speak. Hitchin made substitutions and I tried to make up for the original team sheet inaccuracies, or I should say changes. A hopeful long ball saw Hitchin grab possession but commit a foul in the process. Then there was another that resulted in a poor cross. Lowestoft countered and were playing the better football.
One sweeping move was only broken down with difficulty. Scorer Ekongo was replaced by Dreyer and a long punt from Strizovic brought a corner and something of a sustained attack with Franklin trying his luck, but Yeo held it comfortably. There was no expression of surprise when Barker was booked for dissent. He has been booked, I think, in three successive games, Lowestoft attacked again but were denied progress this time. Deall had a deflected cross that favoured the goalkeeper. Eagle battled impressively through the Hitchin defence, but his accurate shot was held by Strizovic. They broke again, with Dreyer seeing yellow for a professional foul.
The free kick was defended and there were more substitutions. Barker was replaced by Chidyausiku and Wilson by Ossai- Emmanuel. This was followed by a handbags incident the origin of which mystifies me. Sambou was cautioned and Hitchin were ragged and lacking real direction. Home supporters barracked the referee which is by no means unusual when a scapegoat is required.
Eagle, with his beard and intricate haircut was instrumental in forming a chance, but this was dealt with, even if the clearance was a poor one. A Hitchin free kick was greeted with the same enthusiasm as a goal, and indeed we hoped for something. It did bring a corner. There was a bit of a scramble, but Yeo clutched the ball and that was that for a promising move,
Snee strayed offside in the next manoeuvre and there was a Lowestoft substitution. He was not in the next foray which saw a corner pumped in and a crude lob kept up the semblance of an attack but not for long. At this late stage, of five additional minutes, Lowestoft brought on two more substitutes.
There was something admirable about Lowestoft’s fifth goal scored by the swift moving and appropriately named Haddoch. As the visiting players celebrated, they may well have heard Hitchin supporters singing ‘You’re nothing special, we lose every week.’ A bit of gallows humour there then. The awful truth is that the team have conceded ten goals in two games and that is unacceptable.
So, a game that started brightly and our league position is perilous. The exceptionally low attendance might well reflect disaffection and unless there is a dramatic improvement I feel that we will be exceedingly fortunate to escape eventual relegation. I hope my gloom is proved premature.
HITCHIN
Strizovic, Franklin, Dhillon, Titchmarsh, (Snee) Sears, cautioned, Barker, cautioned, (Chidyausiku), Ekongo, GOAL, 1-0, 1 minute, (Dreyer, cautioned), Sambou, cautioned, Wilson, ( Ossai- Emmanuel), Stokoe, Deall, GOAL, 3-2, 43 minutes. All substitutes used.
LOWESTOFT
Yeo, Norman, cautioned, Barbrook, GOAL, 1-3, 40 minutes, Eagle, Cole, Ruffles, ( Haddoch, GOAL, 90 minutes), Whiteley, (Rangel), Duffy, Blogg, (Murphy), Sayer, man of the match – a hat trick, 28 minutes, 1-1, 29 minutes, 1-2, Penalty goal, 2-4, 52 minutes, Johnson. Other substitutes – Haylock and Overton.
Referee- Mr M Stetakovic, assisted by Mr G Ogden and Mr P Hanlon.
Attendance 294.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN