Report
It was a maiden visit to Harborough Town, whose ground, The Beehive, is situated within a modern, purpose-built community centre, an increasingly common development, where, curiously, the actual ground, with the 3G pitch, seemed absorbed by the facilities that surround it. It was busy and vibrant, set amidst new housing in this growing Leicestershire market town.
We were greeted and shown to a partitioned board room facility where I had time to reflect on our solitary meeting at Top Field in November. Hitchin were victorious by a flattering score, and I recall the ferocious physicality of the visitors whose long throw- ins and penetrative free kicks somehow failed to produce a goal. There was a decent attendance that day of 825.
The recent results of the hosts had been impressive, with the pick of them being the 2-1 win over leaders Kettering Town, in front of a bumper attendance of 1500, well above their average of 462. We also recall the notable run in the FA Cup that ended at Reading, with a fighting 3-5 reverse. Hitchin’s results have shown a similar fighting spirit but not as many points as we would have liked, and not as many as we have perhaps deserved.
The mood was not exactly, ‘so shaken as we are and wan with care,’ as player availability had improved slightly, but Luke Stokoe was away having a trial with a professional club, and we wish him well. Sitting in the small stand I had the curious feeling, as at Barwell, that I was overlooking a well-appointed training facility, which in a way it was, and all very modern and purposeful, I also had a fuller understanding why some regard Top Field as quaint and old-fashioned.
The Bees, in all yellow faced the Canaries in their accustomed away strip of purple. Hitchin soon had a free kick, sent in by Gleeson and defended adequately. There was an elaborate but if preparatory play that ended limply. A home effort was ruled out for offside. A free kick was awarded to the hosts after some good individual work from Starkie. Odell- Bature was too casual chin defence, and this led to the first shot from the Bees that went wide.
Odell-Bature sent a fine pass to the left and this offered an unfulfilled chance. Aerially Hitchin were second best, but this was expected. A free kick from Gleeson saw a decent cross from Franklin that was intercepted. Bell, an isolated figure up front, was doing his best and was dwarfed by Alex Morris.
Walsh’s free kick led to a goal chance for the hosts and the expected long throws, which were yet to cause havoc. Stokoe’s long punt was held by the keeper. Harborough’s play began to have some flow, necessitating careful defence. Tearle’s interception of a wayward pass invited a chance on goal, but it did not materialise. Sine errors were creeping in and needed to be eradicated.
In the next attack there were two good chances and the first, saved by Stacey, saw the ball go nicely for Starkie, whose low, well-placed shot put the hosts ahead. We had played twenty- six minutes. A remote chance for Bell was easily extinguished and Hitchin’s lack of punch up front was noticeable. The referee had a quiet word in Stokoe’s ear concerning frustration shown in upending Walsh. Then there was a considerable delay as Burgess received treatment.
Stacey made a notable save from what looked like a goal bound shot, and this underlined the home side’s overall dominance at this stage. There was a bit of confusion when a linesman signalled offside and the referee awarded a home free kick, in what was an inviting area. Kennedy took it and subsequently wasted the chance. Gleeson’s free kick had a better idea, but it culminated in a blocked attempt from Tearle. A Hitchin move on the right saw laborious efforts to produce a cross worthy of the name, and it did not come. When one did come, tall defenders in yellow saw off any possible danger.
We were nearing the interval, but nowhere near a Hitchin equaliser. Three minutes were added and there was a cross from Franklin to Stokoe who just could not turn and was thus dispossessed. Stokoe’s next chance was effectively blocked. The whistle almost accompanied this.
It was notable that Hitchin’s first chance on resumption saw the ball clear the huge net behind the goal to ironic cheers. Harborough had a better chance, but it was defended. Some scrappy play resulted in a number of free kicks. Neither side had used substitutes as yet. This was soon altered when the hosts brought on Carter and Forbes for Sandhu and O’Sullivan.
Excellent work from Stokoe saw him confuse himself like a whirling dervish in the box. Then the all but exhausted Bell was replaced by Brooks. A poor Hitchin free kick took a deflection for a corner and Taylor held this in an unnecessarily dramatic fashion. Well, he had not much to do and was probably feeling the cold.
Maybe Tearle was feeling the cold as well, with his new short hairdo and he was replaced by Deall. Since there was just the one goal in the game, one could speculate that an equaliser was feasible, given a set piece or a bit of individual inspiration. There was a promising attack, beaten out at the expense of a free kick, but Franklin’s cross was inadequate, yet a corner did follow this move. Annoyingly for Hitchin this led to a counter move spoiled neatly by Franklin. Dixon-Smith’s looping cross brought a corner and the ball was put in the net- but the linesman had already signalled that the ball had gone out of play beforehand. Jones’ precise ball forward saw Brooks put the effort over the bar when he really ought to have nabbed the equaliser. As it was, it was a rare chance, and I suspected that not many more would be forthcoming.
Dixon- Smith was then replaced by Ekongo. Just after this there was a similar chance for the hosts and that also cleared the bar by a good few inches. Deall’s free kick wide on the left was deftly headed away, but he had another go and there was momentary excitement in the box. A Hitchin corner followed, and Taylor punched clear. These were good moments for Hitchin. Heaps then replaced the industrious Gleeson and there was little time left for Hitchin to salvage a point.
Harborough used the usual cunning to run down the time, and Stacey, grasping a cross sent the ball up field and Hitchin tried to oblige. They won a free kick, spoiled by an outstretched boot and then, with another chance saw a corner neatly deconstructed. But at least they were still in the hunt, and this might have been ruled out had Rose not made a mess of his chance. He really ought to have scored but Stacey did get his fingertips to the shot.
It is an odd observation, but I felt that the Harborough side that contested the corresponding fixture at Top Field was better than the mediocre assemblage of this day – but they were winning this game and only had to see out five minutes of added time. This they could do with ease if Hitchin eased off. Ekongo sent in a cross that was booted away, and Jones still tried the penetrating pass. As it happened the game ended, and the Bees were avenged for their defeat at Top Field.
It would have been good to have seen a last gasp equaliser, if only to add a little excitement to a match that did not exceed expectations. Hitchin again proved good at exerting pressure but still need the man with the finishing touch. Harborough just edged it with the one sparkling moment. Hitchin remain anchored at the foot of the table, and I expect that our hosts will consolidate their position as a mid- table team.
HARBOROUGH
Taylor, Cooper, Sandhu, (Carta), Dolman, Kennedy, captain, Morris, Walsh, Starkie, GOAL, 26 minutes, 1-0, (Malone), O’ Sullivan, (Forbes), Rose, (Hilton), Burgess, (Williams). All substitutes used.
HITCHIN
Stacey, Franklin, Dixon-Smith, (Ekongo), Syme, Odell- Bature, cautioned, (Chidyausiku), Jones, captain, Bell, (Brooks), Gleeson, (Heaps, cautioned), Stokoe, Tearle, (Deall), Titchmarsh. All substitutes used.
Referee – Mr M Pattison assisted by Mr D Ellis and Mr S Gudger.
Attendance 402
Report by Pipeman.