Hitchin Town 3 Biggleswade Town 1

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Southern League 2024-25

Top Field68 Fishponds Rd, Hitchin SG5 1NU, UK

Hitchin Town
Biggleswade Town
3 - 1
Final Score

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It was indeed a sad prospect that this match in reality was the battle of the basement, with both clubs occupying the bottom two places, with our Bedfordshire neighbours having even fewer points than Hitchin. Needless to say, the points were of crucial value to both clubs who had already contested and earlier fixture where those points were shared at Langford Road.

The Waders sported their all-grey kit to match the murky weather, and the floodlights were already on for this ‘six pointer’.  We began with Babale-Gumbs having the freedom to charge along the left flank and was only halted at the penalty area. It marked an intense opening, as expected.

Brooks had a chance and stumbled in the penalty area, with nothing given or expected. Then the Waders quickly won a corner, which was a good one and just headed wide. Steele’s forward ball brought another chance but was defended. Aerially Hitchin appeared to be struggling, and The Waders looked physically strong.

Babale-Gumbs was proving a nuisance, and it was clear that he would need monitoring. Titchmarsh tried such a run and in his eagerness, he fell over himself. A Hitchin free kick was cleared close to the goal line and the counter move was swift but offside. Then Deall, receiving a smart pass, ran on the keeper and converted at the far post with slow shot. It was a vital opening goal, where the keeper ought to have done better.

Biggleswade responded at once with a decent chance that concluded with Seb Stacey needing treatment after the goalmouth incident. Izekor, who snaffled possession, ran unchallenged on Stacey and a goal was expected but he produced an inexplicable miss, which was embarrassing for him but a let off for Hitchin. A long throw from the Waders caused the usual problems associated with this tactic. Then the Waders’ keeper, Berman, fouled Brooks unnecessarily to concede a penalty, taken by the victim and he scored. Oddly, the goalkeeper was not cautioned, and the goal time was twenty- three minutes. Even at 2-0, I still did not think that this was going to be a comfortable game.

The Waders had a free kick from the left and Andrews managed a header that was saved. Vigilant defenders blocked franklin’s cross and there was a break in play as Dixon- Smith needed treatment, as did Babale-Gumbs immediately afterwards. We had more or less reached the halfway mark. Another long throw brought a corner for the visitors, which was cleared with some difficulty, but brought another and this was scored at close range, almost inevitably. The scorer was Steele, and the time was thirty- five minutes. This was indeed a deserved boost for The Waders.

Hitchin needed a positive response to this, as there was plenty of time to go in this game. Brooks tried a theatrical dive which was ignored by the referee and rightly so. There were many strong challenges and Waders had a free kick on the left from one of these which brought a corner. There was awkward clearance, but it seemed that the initiative was clearly with Biggleswade.

There was a cross from Franklin that Titchmarsh put over the bar and Deall’s and Brooks messed up a decent chance. Izekor had a fine opportunity when he beat two players, but his finishing was again inexplicably poor. Ibrahim cured one in that almost grazed the post. Biggleswade were knocking firmly on the door.

Even so, Deall’s effort came very close as six extra minutes were announced. The Waders seemed to be winning everything in the air, enabling opportunities that were difficult to defend. The long throws were hurtled in and dealt with so far. Brooks won a corner, taken by Deall, which brought another, taken short and cleared quite easily. It had been an eventful half of good attacking football.

The game was finely poised and indeed difficult to predict the eventual outcome. As it happened there was a triple substitution for Hitchin for the second half with Ekongo, Sambou, and Tearle replacing Dixon – Smith, Odell- Bature and Heaps. Read into that what you will, but Hitchin needed to improve if they were to keep the lead intact.

The pace was just as hectic, punctuated by occasional stoppages for treatment. Waders pressed hard, intent in every tackle. Then, with a snap attack Hitchin restored their two-goal lead with a goal from Ekongo. It was much needed and more than justified the substitution. The goal was timed at fifty-seven minutes. The Waders responded typically, but Hitchin were holding. They had a free kick wide on the right delivered by Gleeson but straight into touch.

Jones was outstanding in defence, anticipating much and threading good balls forward. Tearle conceded a foul on the left and this afforded an opportunity for the men in grey. It looked dangerous but an offside flag caused relief. Sporadic attacks from Hitchin were welcome as the opposition were keen to redress the balance. They had a corner, but Stacey claimed the ball with confidence.

Franklin had a run along the right flank which won a corner and thus another chance. It was close. Snee replaced Brooks to strengthen the attacking options, and a further goal would indeed have been welcomed. There was a half chance for Snee and Ekongo fired weakly with about a quarter of an hour to go. Waders had a corner after a chance went begging and this effort cleared the bar, but not by much.

I must say that the Hitchin substitutions was a good tactical move. Jones disrupted the next Waders’ attack, but still they came and won a free kick wide on the right. This effort was awkwardly pushed onto the right top of the net by Stacey for a corner. Hitchin cleared this and won a similar free kick at the other end. This was defended for an unsuccessful counter.

But time’s winged chariot was now against gallant Biggleswade who, despite the score, and Deall ought to have added to this, had provided strong opposition and had played attractive football throughout. A late corner almost brought a consolation goal. This was a must win game for both sides and it hurt the Waders who are still many points adrift at the bottom. Hitchin progress but there is still much to do to climb from the bottom four as teams around us have games in hand.

But, hey, two successive wins in a week is good news and today’s thrilling game made up for the rather dour Tuesday night encounter with a rather dull Redditch team. I have nothing but praise for Biggleswade who gave it their all and certainly belied their status.

HITCHIN TOWN
Stacey, Franklin, Dixon- Smith, cautioned, (Ekongo) Syme, Odell- Bature, (Sambou), Jones, captain, Deall, GOAL, 17 minutes, 1-0, Sponsors’ Man of the Match, Gleeson, Heaps, (Tearle), Brooks, PENALTY GOAL, 28 minutes, 2-0, (Snee), Titchmarsh. Unused Substitute – Chidyausiku.

BIGGLESWADE TOWN
Berman, Flanagan, (Onyeagwara), Wilson, (Florian), Doherty, captain, Steele, GOAL, 35 minutes, 2-1, Stirling, Babale-Gumbs, Izekor, Ibrahim, Adu, Andrews, (Mirtahmasebi). Unused Substitutes – Briggs, Simpson.

Referee – Mr G Burton assisted by Mr I Jordanov and Mr A Tooley.

Attendance 742

Report by Pipeman.

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Competition Season Attendance
Southern League 2024-25 742

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