Report
Victory Road has not exactly been a happy hunting ground for Hitchin, with no win since 2019, and the Suffolk side have a knack for producing positive results against the strongest of teams. Hitchin had shown a spark of form with back-to-back wins, and there was the earnest hope that this form would continue. It remained just a hope as the Canaries fell to two second-half strikes.
Bright sunshine had lifted the spirits, and we hoped for a fine game, which was only partially granted. Initially there was some exploratory long ball stuff and a probing attack on the left from Hitchin and an equally unsuccessful foray by the hosts. Imprecise play marked the next few minutes, and a home corner was replaced by another, and this was cleared without difficulty.
Hitchin won their first corner, taken by Tearle and gathered by keeper Johnson. This first quarter of an hour saw attempts at forward play, but with defences in control. Mistakes were absorbed and it was an intriguing contest. In a hint of a chance, Deall was robbed of possession and a deflected shot from the persistent Fowkes brought a corner of negligible quality from the hosts.
Franklin broke away and was soon outnumbered and forced into a poor pass but again, Hitchin looked lightweight up front, with Brooks struggling to get a touch. A cross from Franklin went astray and at twenty- five minutes we still awaited a real shot on target from either side. Brooks won a free kick in a prime position and surely this meant a direct shot. There were four in the wall and the shot went wide.
Stacey came off his line with a defensive tackle that sent the ball out if the ground and then a fine shot from Fowkes saw Stacey dive low to save. This was the closest we had come to a goal so far. Good defending from Dixon- Smith eliminated danger and another home corner was dealt with effectively. A Hitchin foray forward was snuffed out routinely, but there was a corner, headed clear and Stacey distinguished himself with a remarkable save from Loza after a defensive error from Dixon- Smith. The absence of goal chances from Hitchin was becoming more noticeable. There was a Hitchin free kick from Gleeson that resulted in a free kick for the hosts, who sent it forward and obtained a corner from it and this saw Franklin clear dramatically from the line.
The sense of fragility was apparent, and subtle pressure was on Hitchin who were minutes away from the interval where a tactical talk was inevitable. Tearle’s stout defending was the last bit of action before the interval. The best moments had been claimed by Leiston who had been the better side and could have been two up.
The opening of the second half saw a somewhat freakish goal for the hosts as the ball appeared to hit the post and the rebound was tapped in without hindrance. The scorer was Kyran Clements, and the time was forty-seven minutes. Hitchin replied with some aggression and a shot from Brooks was deflected for a corner and Franklin’s effort found the roof of the net.
Hitchin needed to impose themselves with forward play, but the hosts were adept at wily counter moves that created danger. Snee had replaced Dixon- Smith and Gleeson fired an on target shot that Johnson needed to save, as did Stacey from a Fowkes effort. Loza’s cross won a corner for the hosts and Stacey claimed the ball and sent it long, but Brooks could not reach it.
Brooks was then replaced by loan signing Jonathan Lawson whose parent club is Watford, and he has had a spell at Kings Langley. It was hoped that he would add the needed zest to the attack. There was also the replacement of Gleeson by Odell- Bature. Ekongo did his best with a run, but the ball was soon up the other end and a second goal for the hosts was notched up with apparent ease and it was a second for Kyran Clements after sixty-eight minutes. Shortly after this the hosts seemed to expose more weaknesses and threatened to score a third. But it already looked as if the match was beyond salvaging, and Deall’s lob with the keeper off the line just failed. It would have been a tremendous boost had it been successful.
A Hitchin corner gave Snee a free header which he put over the crossbar. Deall won another corner that brought a Jones header and then a caution for substitute Rayworth. The Hitchin free kick was embarrassing and then Lawson broke free and drew a fine save from Johnson at the expense of a corner. This was a poor one and gave a further chance on the counter for Leiston.
A long throw from Ekongo was momentarily hopeful but came to nothing and the prospect of salvaging a point was increasingly unlikely. A Hitchin free kick was of negligible quality but at least they were trying to obtain at least a consolation goal. Snee had a crack with a free kick, but it lacked power and quality, and again we were reminded of how opportunities had been wasted. A corner from Tearle saw a shot from Titchmarsh that did not trouble Johnson.
Fatadjo had a go for the hosts, but it lacked velocity and then Hitchin had a further chance from another corner. The goalie punched it clear but there was another free kick for Hitchin and Johnson pitched it out for a corner as five extra minutes was announced. It was a poor corner, and this had been an unwanted feature of Hitchin’s game. Titchmarsh had a late shot that brought another corner and yet another wasted opportunity as this one went straight into touch. The whistle went shortly after, and we can have no complaints.
The fact that the home keeper was awarded man of the match may have some significance but, in my view, he was not seriously troubled by the set pieces he was called upon to defend. Hitchin had endeavoured in a better second half but in truth it was just not good enough and the much-needed points eluded us without serious challenge.
Next Saturday brings another away trip where we travel to Stourbridge.
LEISTON
Johnson, man of the match, Yun, Dunbar captain, Armin, Clements, TWO GOALS, 47 and 68 minutes, Jackson, Hill, (Rayworth, cautioned), Alexander, Fowkes, (Fatadjo), Quantrell, Loza, (Saunders), Substitutes not used – Batho, Jarvis.
HITCHIN TOWN
Stacey, Franklin, Dixon- Smith, (Snee), Syme, Tearle, Jones, captain, Deall, Gleeson, (Odell- Bature), Brooks, (Lawson), Ekongo, Titchmarsh. Substitutes not used – Joy, Heaps.
Referee- Mr A Tyne, assisted by Mr M Whitworth and Mr R Taylor.
Attendance 210
Report by Pipeman.