Hitchin Town 1 Banbury United 0

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Southern League 2024-25

Top Field68 Fishponds Rd, Hitchin SG5 1NU, UK

Hitchin Town
Banbury United
1 - 0
Final Score

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Well, we all remember Henry Snee’s late winner against the Pilgrims at The Spencer Stadium, but The Oxfordshire club have steadied the ship since and recent results have been notable. So, to win today and achieve a league double over Banbury is a considerable achievement and much credit is due to manager Michael Jones.

It was a misty, twisty day, as the song says, with floodlights on at the start, and the first chance fell to Banbury, with Prosser’s probing cross and a good follow up that won a corner, preceded by the irritating jostling. Nantwi-Ofusus’s eventual header was harmless.

Hitchin defended with considerable precision but needed more possession. A long throw from the Puritans caused some concern and Gordon’s shot was blocked. Jones sent out a good long ball, but the intention was immediately seized upon.

Odell-Bature had a similar idea, but Puritans’ keeper Harding intercepted. A sudden Hitchin attack brought a corner with the crowd demanding a penalty. Nothing doing, and the corner was beaten away. This first quarter of an hour had provided some decent football and right on this moment Bradley Smith tried a shot and it took a deflection and ended up in the back of the net. Yes, there was a welcome smile of fortune, and Hitchin were a goal to the good.

Banbury responded with an immediate attack, knowing that the goal really was against the run of play. There was another shot from Bradley Smith, but it was always going wide. There was a free kick for the Puritans, defended robustly with an up and under and a move forward Stanley and Reilly combined in a move that broke down, but in their next move, with the defence beaten, Ferguson ought to have equalised from a rebound, but he out the ball over the unguarded net. Okonkwo did well to parry the first effort.

There was some stylish stuff from the Puritans in attack but some encouraging stuff in defence from the Canaries. Deall came into the category of ‘Should Have Scored’ when he failed to convert a deliciously inviting cross. Jarvis tried a cross which proved too heavy and then, Deall on a classic solo run entered the category again as he only found the side netting.

Connor Stanley was proving a real handful with his agility and quick thinking and Ferguson’s cross was dealt with but there was a good deal of pressure on the Hitchin goal. However, Deall won a corner for the hosts and a cross from Syme saw a Smith header saved by Harding.

Brooks and Smith combined in, if successful, would have been seen as a showboating move. Some midfield skirmishes followed with Hitchin seemingly determined to keep the ball in the opposition half. There was a needless conceding of a corner with Gedeon Okito heading over the bar.

Ferguson won a free kick, wide on the left but it was over hit. We had a few minutes to go until the interval and Hitchin battled to keep their lead intact, with Okonkwo saving well. There was a late chance for Brooks, held by Harding and Deall’s cross was defended.

Deall finished the half with a good run where he found himself outnumbered and dispossessed. We knew it was going to be a tough task to keep ahead in this very competitive game. I was pleased to receive an acknowledgment from Gedeon Okito, whom I knew when he played for Dunstable Town. There was a Hitchin free kick sent in by Gleeson and Jones just failed to connect. A sliced clearance by Harding brought the customary jeers of a derisory nature, and Okito was there to defend the cross, and a later one from Franklin was held comfortably. And It was Franklin who desperately tried to connect with another cross but just failed in the attempt.

Dixon-Smith sliced at the expense of a troublesome long throw in, where panic ensued, and the pressure continued. There was another throw and a corner. A free kick for the visitors saw the move break down and then Gleeson was replaced by Kye Tearle. Banbury put on King for Ferguson. Brooks cut in well from the left and was brought down for a bit of a soft penalty. Brooks took the spot kick himself and was unsuccessful as Harding made a commendable one- handed save. When you opt for power over placement such misses often occur. Brooks received a caution for attempting to punch the rebounding ball into the net.

This vital miss occurred with a good deal of the second half left and defending this narrow lead was an onerous task. There followed a bit of a let off for Hitchin as the hosts messed up an excellent opportunity. Ball then replaced Gordon as Syme provided an opportunity which brought a free kick for Hitchin on the left which Smith sent in, but the wall did its job, and Banbury were on the counter move.

Brooks broke away boldly and then fell over himself without being able to provide a pass. Then, the match winner at the Spencer Stadium, Henry Snee, came in for possible match winner Bradley Smith. There was still a lot of time to go in this match and Ball’s effort found the roof of the net. Then Banbury won a corner for good measure that brought tight and successful defending.

Deall raced forward and secured a generous corner kick which Tearle sent in, to a muddled conclusion. Then a forward move and a cross from Brooks to Snee where any touch, even accidental would have seen the home advantage double. So, back to the nervousness and a Brooks free kick for Banbury, well defended and then Deall was fouled with the Hitchin free kick. Okito was replaced by Odei-Larbi.  There were some splendid moments in defence and some not so classy. We had reached eighty-five minutes of normal time and Lawson replaced the virtually exhausted Deall. We expected a generous segment of added time.

Another free kick for the visitors, a probing one sent in by keeper Harding saw Syme partially clear and Ekongo replaced Brooks. It was all hands to the pumps for the five additional minutes, which had the long throw menace and the probing play that had stretched the home defence.

Another Puritan free kick saw an important save by Okonkwo and a melee as after as it seemed Okonkwo was harshly impeded. Cautions followed. So did another scene and out came the card again. I wanted this match to finish as hitherto it had been played in a Corinthian spirit by both sides. More time was added on for the handbag incidents, and even a free kick for Hitchin received acclamation.

The mist was enveloping the ground as challenges came in and the Fishponds Road end emitted a cheer as the whistle went and Hitchin completed a memorable league double over Banbury United, whose supporters might feel aggrieved that their team did not achieve at least a draw in this feisty game.

The Hitchin team went towards the supporters behind the goal to administer the high fives, a practice that actually started in the corresponding fixture, and it has now become standard.

We travel to Suffolk next week to take on Lowestoft who are, like us in search of points for safety reasons and it ought to be a fine match.

HITCHIN TOWN

Okonkwo, Franklin, Dixon-Smith, Syme, Odell-Bature, Jones, this reporter’s Man of the Match, Deall, (Lawson), Gleeson, (Tearle, cautioned), Brooks cautioned, (Ekongo), Smith, GOAL, 1-0, 15 Sponsors’ Man of the Match (Snee), Titchmarsh. Unused substitute – Heaps.

BANBURY UNITED

Harding, Reilly, (Jones), Okito, (Odei- Larbi), Prosser, Nanci- Ofuso, cautioned, Fleming, Forsyth, cautioned, Ferguson (King), Gordon, (Ball), Jarvis, cautioned, Stanley. Unused substitute – Hollyhead.

Attendance 672

Report by Pipeman.

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Competition Season Attendance
Southern League 2024-25 672