Report
The Hitchin team travelling to the War Memorial Stadium was anxious to shed the memory of the 5-1 reverse in this fixture at Top Field, which shattered morale at the time. Inevitable changes have occurred, and they were ongoing, with Seb Stacey recalled to Milton Keynes Dons after playing thirteen games for the Canaries. However, his replacement loanee is a youthful Arsenal keeper who did play a solitary game for us some time ago as an emergency measure. His name is Brian Okonkwo.
However, the club has signed Bradley Smith on loan from Hemel Hempstead Town and Bradley Bell was back for selection. The Stokoe twins were still abroad continuing their trials with professional clubs. Matches with the Glassboys have been entertaining in the last with plenty of goals, but not in the crucial final fixture last season that is still redolent in the memory.
The team changes included starts for Billy Heaps and loanee from Watford, Jonathan Lawson. The pitch looked heavy and expectations from the Hitchin contingent were necessarily high with points desperately needed.
Snee had a shot in the first minute that was sent high over the crossbar and Lawson was aware of a chance on the left. Hitchin had some attacking possession play in these opening minutes and recovery play was sound, but the Glassboys produced a good move and a shot from Tyrone Barnett that flashed across the goal.
Jordan Brown’s smart work along the left resulted in a fine pass to Barnett who put the Glassboys ahead after fourteen minutes, which, after Hitchin’s promising start seemed doubly disappointing. He needed again after seventeen minutes with an unchallenged shot, but the offside flag was raised.
A chance came for Hitchin came after a run from Heaps where he tried to thread the ball through to Lawson, but it was neatly intercepted. Stourbridge began to look stronger in their attacking moves, with some telling moves into the box. A free kick, just inside the defensive half saw Ekongo try to steal along the left flank but to no avail.
Snee managed a fair cross after a tussle, but it failed to connect. A corner for the Glassboys was defended and a foul on Deall gave a chance to get the ball forward, but the move broke down somewhat limply. The initiative was firmly with the home side with twenty- six minutes gone.
Snee won a free kick in a good position, and this represented the visitors’ first real attempt on goal and Jones’ shot just cleared the bar. More possession was needed to produce more chances if an equaliser could be bagged in this half. Deall was still struggling to get a meaningful touch on the ball and Alex Moore spurned a fine chance for the home side.
Then a lunge from Jones conceded a penalty and to me there was no argument about it and Ethan Freemantle converted with some gusto to make it 2-0 with thirty- six minutes gone. Snee won a free kick and there was a semblance of an attack that actually led to a goal chance for Stourbridge.
Snee and Lawson were being rendered ineffective by close marking and errant passing. Another corner was conceded which was defended with some difficulty by Hitchin who were being confined to their own half as we approached half-time. Titchmarsh had a chance following a move from Lawson but was prevented from making a finish. Ekongo saw another free kick that Jones sent to obscurity and Snee’s header in stoppage time was clear of the crossbar.
Little time was added and enough to show that the hopeful long ball forward was not proving effective. There was also a caution for home player Rowe. The late chance in this half was the last bit of real action but I listened with some low feelings as my boardroom colleagues considered that half one of the poorest they had seen.
The second half started with immediate pressure on Hitchin and no substitution was made yet for either side. Rowe won a corner for the Glassboys which Okonkwo gathered. The floodlights came on, but it failed to illuminate Hitchin’s play in a period where they struggled for possession. Tearle was fortunate to get away with a defensive slip and a home substitution for the hosts when Fletcher replaced Moore. Tearle’s forward pass to Snee did not go anywhere and Jones’ attempt at a shot was blocked and then Barnett thumped in his second goal of the game with some authority after fifty-two minutes. The game was now effectively beyond redemption and had reached the point we call damage limitation.
Sadly, there was nothing of note about Hitchin’s performance, especially in terms of productive forward play. There was little hint of a compensatory goal as the hosts dominated and a lob from Batchelor needed a fingertip save from Okonkwo who also held the corner kick. Then Brooks replaced Lawson for Hitchin. He was soon involved and essayed a cross that was defended and then Fletcher came on for Moore and Verma for Freemantle. The pattern of the game remained unchanged with the hosts remaining dominant all over the pitch. Heaps managed a cunning ball forward, but it was intercepted. Odell – Bature also replaced Heaps for Hitchin. Then the double scoring man of the match Barnett was replaced by Alexander Jones. This came before then hosts very nearly made it four.
These closing stages were as painful as the rest of the match and the loss could have been heavier but for some quality defending. And a fine save by Okonkwo from a shot by Verma. Snee was then replaced by Bell and Deall by Bradley Smith. There was however a compensatory goal scored by the hard-working Lewis Franklin. So, 3-1 with just minutes to go. The goal was timed at eighty-four.
A late corner was conceded, and this was taken at a leisurely pace with the game well won by the hosts. Bell had a long run and an attempted cross, but this was beaten away as was Titchmarsh’s following effort. The game then ended, and it had not been the least enjoyable from a Hitchin point of view and to a certain extent they were fortunate not to lose by a higher score.
It makes the next two games, against Banbury and Lowestoft even more important.
STOURBRIDGE
Smith, Rowe, Portman, Lewis, Brown, (Worley), Kettle, captain, Moore, (Fletcher), Freemantle, PENALTY GOAL, 36 minutes, (Verma), Batchelor, Masidi, Barnett, TWOGOALS, 14 1-0 and 42,minutes 3-0, man of the match. Substitutes not used. -Benjamin.
HITCHIN TOWN
Okonkwo, Franklin, GOAL, 84 minutes, 3-1, Ekongo, Syme, Tearle, Jones, captain, Deall, (Smith), Heaps, ( Odell- Bature), Snee, (Bell), Lawson, (Brooks), Titchmarsh. Substitute not used – Dixon-Smith.
Referee- Mr Edgar Brown assisted by Mr Thomas Edis and Mr Adrian Hall.
Attendance 573
Report by Pipeman.