Report
I cannot avoid mentioning the odd statistic of Hitchin winning four successive matches at Stratford whilst the Bards have won at Top Field on their last three visits. The omens were not good today as a glance at the programme revealed that the Warwickshire club occupied a playoff position and had kept no fewer than fourteen clean sheets and were comfortably in a playoff position.
It was a daunting prospect for the Canaries who were still licking the wounds inflicted by the St Ives match, where two points were heedlessly cast away by a defensive error. Team news for Hitchin revealed the return of Seb Stacey as goalkeeper and the arrival of his MK Dons team mate Kobe Sinclair- Linton.
It was a bright, sunny day and the first time in my memory that we have played Stratford on a Saturday afternoon, as we usually have an evening fixture. The only other time we went on a Saturday the game was called off, somewhat controversially.
Stratford, in their retro style Luton style kit found themselves defending long balls from Hitchin. One move brought a cross from Brooks and it was a good start from Hitchin on a pitch that seemed quite ravaged. But the early forays were marked by imprecision. Franklin had a chance for a shot but fired wide. This followed a good move from Brooks and Stokoe. Again, a Franklin cross following a good pass went begging. Another move was cancelled out by a foul.
It was surprising that in the opening quarter of an hour, the hosts had not encroached and then Deall’s shot brought a corner. There were frantic moments, appeals for a penalty and a lofted clearance close to the line. Hitchin were not playing like a team threatened by relegation and the hosts were not playing like promotion contenders.
A long through ball to Daniel Stokoe left him with Weaver, in goal, to beat, he should have done but produced an inexplicable miss. Then he compensated for this by being awarded a penalty and Stokoe scored against a team that had not conceded in fourteen games. Now, after twenty minutes they were behind and surely, I thought, they would countermand Hitchin’s unexpected dominance.
Yes, unusually, there had been a lot of long ball, but it had produced all the goal chances so far, and a sacrifice of the niceties of the modern game mattered little to the vociferous travelling supporters behind the goal. But they knew there were seventy plus minutes to go. A free kick the hosts went beyond Stacey for a goal. Then in a quick counter, Hitchin ought to have gone ahead but two glaring misses left us nonplussed. Then, finally, there was a realistic chance for the Bards and Stacey gave thanks for an outstretched leg and we had the referee to thank as he decided that a Hitchin goal line clearance was indeed a clearance, and the ball had not crossed the line.
The Bards had woken but this state was suspended as Jacob Weaver needed treatment and home players milled around their manager who was dispensing tactical advice, no doubt. Then Burton went for one and shot wide. Thirty- four minutes had gone and Hitchin needed to be heedful of the change of emphasis in the game. The next home attack brought a corner that was beaten out and Hitchin countered but the attack fell through. A fine delivery from Owen James saw Stacey gather safely.
Brooks brought the ball down expertly in the next Hitchin foray but then sent his pass to an opponent. A home free kick went unintentionally straight into Stacey’s hands and fine defence from Syme put Callum Ebanks off his strike. The next Hitchin attack saw the cross defended and the referee indicated only three additional minutes to the half. These were to be added to ad Stokoe took one full on the bonce but recovered quickly.
Brooks had a decent chance right at the end but lost touch of his feet and the ball. It was the last bit of action and the Canaries took the lead to the interval, knowing that the second half could be an onslaught.
But Deall’s fancy footwork at the start of the second half deserved marks for artistic interpretation and had his cross been converted it would have been wonderful. At the other end there was a lusty home appeal for a penalty and from a corner the ball appeared to sail straight into the net for the equaliser. This goal, scored by Brennan, coming so early in the half was a needed boost for the now upbeat Bards and a blow to Hitchin who know they ought to have been about three up by half time.
Then Franklin was replaced by Dixon-Smith and still we waited for a meaningful response to the goal from Hitchin, who were defending deeply and conceding corners. Long balls upfield gave only a brief respite and following one of these the hosts should have taken the lead. Aerial duels now seemed to favour those in orange and Hitchin’s purple patch seemed restricted to the first half. Stacey made a good save from Ebanks.
Good defending from Hitchin was spoiled by aimless passing and gaining possession was lacking. A free kick from Gleeson saw a poor effort on the left. Vann and Williams had replace Joshua and Burton. Another corner sailed in with Ekongo heading clear and in a token attack Deall strayed yards off side, a feat he replicated just seconds later.
The hosts now found the long ball a useful tactic, with Hitchin defending well on this occasion. An unintentional slice from Weaver gave a hint of a chance for the visitors that was wasted. Ciaren Jones had a much better half and was looking for the ideal through ball whenever he had a chance. Gleeson’s fine pass sent Deall away on a chance but he the referee brought the game back for a free kick right on the edge of the area. It was a rare bit of aggressive excitement for Hitchin this half. Gleeson hooked the ball hopefully into the opposition penalty area and it did need a stylish bit of defending.
The pitch, already well-worn in parts, was cutting up and Stacey dived low to make a vital save. A home free kick saw Weaver take it from near the halfway line. A home long throw was defended, and Weaver sent another long ball forward. Brooks was replaced by Bradley Smith for the last ten minutes that would seem to last for much longer.
And then even longer as Ciaren Jones went down injured and appeared to be directed off the pitch. He was recalled quite soon and was needed in the heart of the defence. It was a bruising conclusion with a Bards attack ruled out owing to a foul and the referee added seven minutes for good measure. Hitchin were hanging on. What a lark it would be if they snatched a late winner. Wishful thoughts.
Stratford still went for the jugular and won a late corner, Stacey punched clear and then another home corner got the crowd going and it was partially cleared but Stacey was the hero, as we entered the last frantic minutes dominated by Bards attacks and a theatrical penalty appeal. Yet another corner to defend saw Stacey hold the ball yet again.
The onslaught was finally brought to a halt by the referee who had done well to keep a proper perspective and Hitchin will be pleased at a solitary point and will reflect that the equaliser, scored direct from the corner was not a freak goal as such but unusual, and a piece of good fortune for the hosts who may well have lost for the fifth successive time at home to a Hitchin team.
After a poor start, the Bards managed to find their rhyme and rhythm, but it was not a polished performance from a team vying for promotion. Hitchin had their purple patch and will reflect that if they had converted those first half chances then maximum points would have been the reward. If Hitchin had won, my conscience would be untroubled or as the Colley Cibber interpolation in Shakespeare’s ‘Richard the Third’, ‘Conscience avaunt, Richard’s himself again.’
STRATFORD TOWN
Weaver, Brennan, GOAL, 1-1 49 minutes, Hawker, McCone, captain, Ludford- Ison, Ebanks, (Bruce), Lafferty, Joshua, (Vann), Burton, (Williams), James, Lacey. Substitutes not used- Solanke, Molyneux, Bruce.
HITCHIN TOWN
Stacey, mentioned in dispatches, Franklin, (Dixon- Smith), Ekongo, Syme, Hitchin man of the match, Odell- Bature, Jones, captain, Deall, Gleeson, Stokoe, PENALTY GOAL, 20 minutes, 0-1, Brooks, (Smith), Titchmarsh. Substitutes not used – Sinclair- Linton, Tearle, Bell.
Referee- Mr J Shepherd, assisted by Mr N Gray and Mr A Rowbottom.
Attendance 833
Report by Pipeman.