Report
At the start of the game the teams had one thing in common, namely that they were yet to lose away. Home form might cause a few blushes though. But this all meant for an intriguing contest, with the Hitchin team having gained deserved praise for their gutsy performance at Bell Close against unbeaten leaders Leighton Town.
Northwood officials told me that their team had been revamped and that improvements in results were expected. It was sunny, chilly and we started with a shot on goal that was not the least bit troublesome for Hafed Al-Droubi. More Hitchin forward moves followed as the team looked for an early lead. Northwood appeared to permit possession with an eye to a telling break.
Franklin won a corner as his attempted cross was deflected. This net the head of Ciaren Jones whose effort was clean but inaccurate, as was his forward pass that might have caused concern. Northwood defended patiently, as if biding their time. Kane’s marvellous cross would have been nicely converted had Franklin been able to connect. There was a Hitchin corner, taken short and was artfully constructed until the ball crept out of play. It was all Hitchin in this opening quarter of an hour.
Northwood, penned in until now, put in a forward move that was closed down efficiently and back came Hitchin, endeavouring to find a way through this stubborn defence. A goal would change the tenor of the game and Nicolson’s fine cross saw Rhiney attempt a diving header which would have hit the mark if he had connected.
A good move between Coldicott-Stevens and Franklin could have brought the opener, but it was well defended. Rhiney’s good chance was denied well by Folarin, but to my mind it was a dangerous game Northwood were playing and with Bell-Toxtle brought down in a cynical challenge, Smith- Jones was cautioned. The free kick saw a glancing header that looked good but ended up on the roof of the net. Then Tearle’s low cross simply begged for a tap in, but no-one was near enough.
A classy bit of forward play by Tearle was neatly foiled by Cuthbert and a stoppage in play allowed us to gaze meditatively at the rainbow that arced over the ground. Bell-Toxtle was replaced by McNeil and his first action was to miss an absolute sitter. A goal was overdue, and some frustration was evident. Northwood were even getting away with errors in defence. And they were still holding. Baruwa’s wild shot from range seemed a token effort.
Hitchin won another corner, delayed by jostling in the box and I think it was Blue Joy’s header well held by the keeper. I have not seen a team sit so deep as Northwood, with the expression ‘park the bus’ coming to mind and a goal for the hosts would force them to play. Back-to-back corners followed as four additional minutes were announced. Both Blue Joy and JCS came close to netting that precious goal that would open up this match.
A late attack brought a free kick centrally outside the area, with Northwood having a five-man wall. Tearle put it over the bar and the whistle sounded.
One cannot blame the opposition for defending in such desperate depth, hoping for a point, but it does not make for a particularly entertaining game of football. Clearly the onus was on Hitchin to grab a goal from one of the numerous opportunities that had been created. And indeed, one goal would be sufficient.
Tearle, hauled down, failed to impress the referee, but Kane and Nicolson kept it going but Al- Droubi was there to spoil the move. Another followed and it resulted in a goal kick. The next opportunity was seen off by the increasingly busy Northwood keeper. Kane artfully won a corner which was untidily defended, but it kept Hitchin at bay. Jones forward ball saw Mc Neill head over the bar.
The next chance went for a corner band actually caused something resembling a counter move, which was more of a time-wasting manoeuvre that fortuitously became a corner and an attempted shot that was blocked. Players going down injured was also expected and Sharifi made the most of it. Rhiney came off and Freitas-Gouveia came on, a player who has scored very quickly in recent substitutions. An over-elaborate move from Hitchin was broken down and another started. But still this defence was unyielding and then, out of nowhere, the visitors scored. There was a degree of irony in this. Hitchin were committed with everyone forward and, neatly winning possession Northwood pounced and did not give a hoot that it was well against the balance of play.
Al-Droubi punched away the next corner, and oddly, Tearle was replaced by Gleeson, who was immediately in the action. Then JCS was replaced by Butler. This was the last throw of the dice and now the visitors were bolder and playing some decent football. For all their pressure it did not seem likely that Hitchin could come from behind and win 2-1.
The hitherto fluid attack was now coming up short. Al-Droubi held the next cross and was yet to put a foot wrong. A hopeful penalty appeal was dismissed, and I must say it was the crowd and not the players making the claim. Down went Stewart writhing in apparent agony to be replaced by McKenna.
Now that Northwood had started to play, they revealed a much better attitude, greatly enhanced by the breakaway goal. Seven minutes were added and it was something. After all a draw would be better than a defeat, but some confusion arose when a foul seemingly outside the box was in fact a penalty for Hitchin. Even this was a bit of a mess as Freitas Gouveia saw his kick initially saved but he slotted in the rebound. Now Hitchin pushed for a winner and down went Price- Placid and on the restart, Hitchin won a free kick and faced a five-man wall. The attempt won a corner, and justice demanded a late winner, but the header cleared the bar.
Time was nearly up, and the deserved victory was denied. At least we did not have to suffer the indignity of a defeat after such domination of possession and an excess of scoring chances.
As I have already said, the onus was on Hitchin to find a way to break down the ten-man defence. It is not easy, but I suspect this is not the last time we will face such tactics. Nevertheless, we will feel aggrieved that we did not win this match, given the opportunities that came our way – and it is not Northwood’s fault that we missed the prime chances.
Hitchin Town
Alfie Bonfield
Lewis Franklin
Callum Kane
Blue Joy
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C)
Fernando Bell-Toxtle
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney
Kye Tearle
Callum Nicolson
Substitutes
Cole Butler (for Coldicott-Stevens)
Stephen Gleeson (for Tearle)
Diogo Freitas-Gouveia (for Rhiney) – GOAL (pen) 90+3 mins
Will McNeill (for Bell-Toxtle)
Toby Syme was unused
Northwood
Hafed Al-Droubi
Nasir Sharifi
Mack Miskin
Manny Folarin (C)
Gabe Cuthbert
Carl Stewart
Reece Price-Placid
Ademide Baruwa
Devonte Totesaut
Freddie Ford – GOAL, 71 mins
Rahzir Smith-Jones
Substitutes
Jon-Jo Bates (for Baruwa)
Dan Williams (for Smith-Jones)
Osaretin Otote (for Price-Placid)
Harry McKenna (for Stewart)
Bryan Mankumbani was unused
Referee: Mr P Creagh, assisted by Mr N Parrin and Mr B Twitchings.
Attendance: 623
Report by Pipeman
Photos by Peter Else