Report
After the last game, at Harborough Town, we were not damned with faint praise, but the recipients of genuine observation. This may be summed up, as being a team that played decent football but lacked the increasingly elusive striker to get the goals that win games. There is no room for heroic defeats, but we would make room for a last gasp win or a cheeky smash and grab. It is not comfortable being in the relegation zone and a big throw from safety.
Redditch, like our last opponents are comfortably middle table but still quite eager to pick up points. In the line -up for Hitchin, the main change was the starting of Rio Deall in place of Bradley Bell. Apropos of nothing much I did notice that Redditch had a substitute called Dylan Thomas, whose namesake was an idiosyncratic poet who achieved fame in the 1950’s.
There was a slight chance of postponement, as one goalmouth was a bit frozen, but this was soon sorted out. Within three minutes here was a splendid chance for Rio Deall, which was not taken up. This was followed by another attack with the ball sailing apologetically over the crossbar. Deall had another realistic chance, following a good through ball but the move favoured opposition keeper Oliver Taylor.
I suppose the good thing was that Redditch were very quiet themselves and so far, seemingly disinclined. There was a Hitchin free kick, slightly to the right and sent in well by Gleeson but beaten away. Another move brought a corner. Syme’s shot was not noteworthy, and neither was Yussuf’s tackle that saw him cautioned. So far Hitchin had enjoyed better possession, and the chances had been provided, and the sublime finish was waiting to manifest itself.
There was a brief flurry from Redditch, involving Burton and Johnston but it was a token effort in the near twenty-five minutes of play.
Brad Dixon-Smith sent in a marvellous cross, but this and one following lacked the connection that should have brought the opening goal. The next attack also failed to see a breakthrough. Then Redditch won a corner that resulted in a goal line clearance, but the whistle had already gone, announcing a free kick for Hitchin,
A defensive error presents a chance to Redditch who seemed to ignore it, and it led to a counter move from Hitchin, resulting in a woefully over hit corner. Over half an hour had been played, with some good football from the hosts but so far without reward. Dixon- Smith battled forward and gained a corner kick, which was punched away by Taylor. This attack ended prematurely but Jones sent another fine ball forward that aw eager involvement but no more.
Burton’s header from a Redditch cross was easily held, showing that there was still danger despite the superiority in possession. Titchmarsh charged forward and probably noticed that he was unaccompanied by a colleague, and he lost possession. As we approached half time, Burton and Johnston were showing a bit of pace, but its productivity was limited. The first half finished without a goal.
There was the cold comfort of hearing visiting officials giving the view that Hitchin could have been four goals up. But you cannot get an ought from an is. So, what could the second half bring? Well, much of the same to start with. There were no substitutions as yet from either side. A Redditch corner saw Stacey grasp the ball and Brooks wasted a definite chance at the other end. He did send in a good cross in the next foray, but there was no-one there to receive it.
Dixon-Smith continued to be eager but was thwarted again. Then, suddenly Johnston was away, and his shot was good and just tipped over the bar for a corner. Ironically, it was the best chance of the game. Franklin was instrumental in the next attack, and although this was initially beaten away, another chance fell to Harry Titchmarsh whose accurate shot gave Hitchin a deserved lead just short of the hour mark.
This inspired the choristers of the Fishpond Road end who have always kept faith, but in this chilly Tuesday night we had about half the attendance we would have had on a Saturday. The response from Redditch was three substitutions, and then a player, Flanagan, for the second time and thus the visitors were reduced to ten men. A shot from Hitchin saw the ball fortuitously deflected by Endall and Stokoe won a corner, which he took himself and soon there was another.
This win led to an exciting but unproductive melee in the goal mouth where Redditch defenders just about prevailed. Another corner came from this pressure and a blocked shot from Brooks and a save from Stokoe. Then Gleeson was replaced by Bell as Endall received some treatment, and he was then substituted by Atwal.
Bell was immediately involved and his splendid cross just needed to tap in, but no one was there, frustratingly so. But Hitchin continued their attacking play with a high cross reaching Brooks who crossed to no avail. A second goal seemed a necessity rather than a luxury. Snee then replaced Brooks in a like for like transaction.
Snee’s cross was cut out neatly by Taylor, but Hitchin retained the initiative and Snee, on the turn, scored a remarkably good second goal in the eightieth minute. That was worth waiting for and it was beginning to reflect the host’s superiority over a curiously muted Redditch who were entirely out of sorts. They had another effort that proved to be hopeful head tennis and Bell then produced another cross that eluded all. Stacey held another try before Franklin led another charge that resulted in a corner. More Hitchin substitutions followed as we entered the last five minutes of normal time.
A late corner caused a surprise since it brought a goal for the visitors, and again one Jack Kelly exposed Hitchin’s fragility concerning best pieces and it did not help that the referee, who had been excellent, added five minutes, which was fair enough. What was alarming was Redditch suddenly coming to life as a unit and making a draw, however undeserved, look feasible.
It was crazy that Hitchin should finish the game hanging on for the points. Bell had a shot from range and there was a developing attack along the left, providing Bell with a chance that was unfulfilled, and the same thing occurred with Snee’s shot which turned out to be the last kick of the game.
We cannot ask more of the team than the three points they won tonight, after giving us a bit of a scare in the last few minutes. The main point is that they deserved it, fought for it, and lived with their shortcomings. They take on bottom placed Biggleswade Town on Saturday with nominal home advantage. The game at Langford Road was a feisty affair and ended in a draw. In our precarious position only, maximum points will do and with it would come the startling statistic of winning two games in a row. It can be done.
HITCHIN
Stacey, Franklin, (Tearle), Dixon-Smith,(Ekongo), Syme, Odell-Bature, Jones, captain, Deall, (Heaps), Gleeson, (Bell), Stokoe, Brooks, (Snee, Goal,80 minutes), Titchmarsh, GOAL, 59 minutes, Sponsors’ Man of the Match.call substitutes used.
REDDITCH
Taylor, Burton, Kelly, GOAL, 89 minutes, Dawkins, Rowley, Endall,(Atwal), Johnston, Burroughs, (Kirton), Yussuf, cautioned, (Boothe), Clayton-Phillips, (Thomas), Flanagan, dismissed, two cautions. All substitutes used.
Referee – Mr T Kelly, assisted by G Jolley and Mr I Pascu.
Attendance 311
Report by Pipeman.