Report
The phrase ‘must win game’ was no doubt uttered by both sets of supporters, since the hosts and visitors occupied third and fourth from bottom positions respectively. Lowestoft also had a game in hand. The Hitchin team coach was entirely full with supporters snapping up every spare seat for this vital game at The Crown Meadow. As it turned out it did not achieve the level anticipated and was ultimately a bitter disappointment and the Suffolk side achieved a league double over Hitchin.
Hitchin were buoyant after their win over Banbury last week, their own league double, and the team news was that the Stokoe twins were available and an unchanged team faced the Trawlerboys whose line-up included a player called Haddoch.
It was cold and grey and the match began in earnest with Franklin providing a chance for Deall in the opening minute and a short corner saw a cross from Bradley Smith and a real corker of a shot from Franklin that Craven tipped over the bar. This was encouraging.
A counter move from Lowestoft saw Okonkwo intercept a cross from Norman, but Hitchin were dominating possession and looked creative going forward. Titchmarsh won a free kick inside the Lowestoft half and Franklin put in a decent cross that Deall was just unable to reach.
Titchmarsh was fouled again as Hitchin broke in attack and an over-elaborate move was broken down and there was some wayward passes. Another Franklin cross was cleared and a definite chance for Bradley Smith saw his shot fired over the crossbar. A misjudged pass from Odell- Bature gave the hosts the chance of a break that they could not exploit but we had reached the twenty-minute mark with comparatively little goal mouth action.
Ironic cheers accompanied the referee’s award of a free kick to the hosts, but Hitchin soon recovered possession in this game that seemed to lack the vital spark so far, but not with a home free kick that was sent straight into touch. A Hitchin attack on the left was adjudged offside and Sayer’s move looked promising but proved innocuous. There was a corner though that Okonkwo palmed upwards and there was a hopeful penalty appeal dismissed, followed by another corner that led to a Hitchin counter move with Deall cautioned.
The problem up front was yet to be relieved with Brooks well positioned but as yet hardly getting a touch, and from a Franklin pass he was neatly out manoeuvred, as was Deall in the next attempt. Better was the snap effort from Lowestoft that only just cleared the bar. Duffy put in an excellent pass to Rangel who saw the offside flag and had a shot anyway that went wide.
At the other end Franklin won a corner. There was an attempt on goal but it was ineffective. Smith failed to reach a cross from the left, and the same player was robbed of possession in another intended attack. Okonkwo kept out the next home effort and Dixon- Smith’s intended shot was blocked. The game was warming up as Odell- Bature conceded a corner, which as cleared by Titchmarsh. The interval was five minutes away and both teams had been somewhat mediocre.
A late chance for Deall needed him to sidestep the goalkeeper to convert, but he failed and the whistle signalled the break. It was not best of halves and our fixtures’ secretary claimed he had seen better games of Subbuteo, which was a bit harsh. There were two half time substitutions with Dixon – Smith and Smith replaced by Ekongo and Luke Stokoe.
Early into the half there was a dramatic moment when, following a run, Titchmarsh was brought down and the penalty kick was ably converted by Luke Stokoe. It seemed that this was the vital lead and that it could be protected and possibly improved upon.
Yet, after the goal there were some nervous moments from Hitchin and a goal from open play would have been very welcome. The hosts ineptitude in front of goal became more noticeable, but they did get forward when they could, and Sayer’s shot brought a corner that Okonkwo gathered with ease.
Then the Trawlerboys had two corners that posed a threat, but a shot into the side netting was the conclusion. This represented a good spell for the hosts, but in a counter with a Franklin assist for Deall who, with an open goal only managed to hit the crossbar. It was a vital miss after an impressive build up. Had that gone in it would surely have meant all three points. We had played fifty- two minutes.
Then, in what seemed only minutes later, Duffy, on a good run was tripped and a penalty was given, taken by Sayer whose successful kick levelled the scores. There was some significance that both goals had come from penalties as it highlighted the imprecision of both sides in front of goal with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. Then, and if to deride what I had written there was a splendid goal from Rangel which put the hosts ahead and meant they were not that far from ending a seven-game losing streak at the expense of Hitchin, who needed to restore their hold in the game that had been effectively shattered.
For some inexplicable reason, Hitchin’s play was decidedly poor and the hosts prevented them from progressing into the opposition half. The game was punctuated with stuttering moments, with no one able to capitalise on a good cross from substitute Tearle. Snee came on for Gleeson with just over ten minutes to play and still the visitors were struggling, with Stokoe’s aimless punt indicative of the decline in play.
Even a draw seemed improbable now, with poor passing giving Duffy a fine chance on the counter, which was intercepted. Deall’s move on the left brought a corner and then a caution for Stokoe. It now seemed that the only goal scored from open play would turn out to be the winner and Hitchin would be perilously close to relegation once again.
Late attacks petered out and there was little time left to salvage this game that had begun so promisingly and was now ending ignobly, with five minutes of added time giving some measure of hope. Deall’s header was held by Craven, and the hosts made some late substitutions. It was a scrappy ending and the result was a damaging one for Hitchin who really ought to have done better.
They seemed to get progressively poorer in play with the passage of time in this awkward game that brought no solace to the impressive travelling support who expected more from their team. So, instead of moving out of the relegation zone with a win, Hitchin find themselves back in the second from bottom spot. It was a huge disappointment in a game we looked fairly sure if winning, even by a single goal.
The winning goal was a majestic strike and a worthy match-winner and having said that we must put this behind us and concentrate on forthcoming games and the garnering of valuable points.
LOWESTOFT TOWN
Craven, Norman, captain, Haddoch, (Eagle, cautioned), McIntosh, (Cole), Ruffles, Ayoola, Duffy, Johnson, Rangel, GOAL, 73 minutes, 2-1 Sayer, PENALTY GOAL, 70 minutes, 1-1,( Overton), Haylock, Aldous). unused substitute- Howell.
HITCHIN TOWN
Okonkwo, Franklin, cautioned, Dixon-Smith, cautioned, (Ekongo), Syme, Odell- Bature, (Tearle), Jones, captain, Deall, Gleeson, (Snee), Brooks, ( Lawson), Smith, L Stokoe, PENALTY GOAL, 52 minutes, 0-1, cautioned, Titchmarsh. All substitutes used.
Referee – Mr C Darling assisted by Mr S Mackenzie and Mr G Jolley.
Attendance 307
Report by Pipeman.