Report
Hitchin handed out a five goal thrashing to previously unbeaten Leighton Town at Top Field on Saturday as the club said goodbye to their highly respected match reporter Paul Harris.
How he would have loved to have reported on a scintillating performance that was the highlight of the season so far. Leighton had won 14 and drawn 5 of their 19 league games conceding just 15 goals but they had no answer to a relentless and determined performance from the Canaries. It is no exaggeration to say that Hitchin could easily have won by an even bigger margin on a day when Hitchin goalkeeper Tyler McGregor was hardly troubled.
The game was preceded by a minutes applause for Pipeman and it was as if he inspired the team as from the kick-off Hitchin were in control. Callum Nicolson shot over the bar after three minutes and just seven minutes later Hitchin took the lead when Lewis Franklin let fly with a thunderbolt from 25 yards to leave Daniel Hosier clutching at thin air. Kye Tearle had been prominent in the build up and he had a shot saved soon after. Hitchin were playing some really attractive football and in the 16th minute Nicolson hit another great shot that left Hosier helpless. Again the build up had been exemplary with Callum Kane fully involved.
Hitchin kept coming forward and another good run by Tearle saw Kane shoot over the bar, while Josh Coldicott-Stevens and Josh Jackman both had good efforts before half-time. Unfortunately Toby Syme picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Brett Longden in the 43rd minute, but in injury time Hitchin made it 3-0 with Ciaren Jones showing how dangerous he is at the far post as he headed home a Josh Coldicott-Stevens corner.
The first half could not have gone better and the league leaders were shell shocked. Any fears of a repeat of Tuesday when Biggleswade Town overturned a two-goal deficit were allayed when Hitchin scored a fourth goal in the first minute of the second half. Franklin did really well and lobbed the keeper for Taylor Rhiney to head home from close range.
In the 50th minute there was a bizarre incident when a goalmouth scramble saw Hitchin hit the bar twice, have a shot cleared off the line and another shot brilliantly saved—how did the ball not go in?
At no stage did the Hitchin defence offer any hope to Leighton as they kept their concentration and cut out any threats. Hitchin continued to play good football and the magnificent attendance of 759 got great value for their entrance fees. There was still time for a fifth goal after 86 minutes. A Coldicott-Stevens free kick was headed home for a debut goal from Ade Gbolahan. 5-0 did not flatter Hitchin and this was their most complete performance of the season. It did not seem fair to pick a man of the match as every player fully played his part.
So it was a memorable Top Field occasion and the game was a fitting memory to Pipeman. I feel quite inadequate to try and fill his shoes but I know he would have loved this display and I dedicate this report to his memory.
Hitchin Town
Tyler McGregor
Josh Jackman
Callum Kane
Toby Syme
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C) – GOAL 45+2 mins & MOTM
Kye Tearle
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney – GOAL 50 mins
Lewis Franklin – GOAL 10 mins
Callum Nicolson – GOAL 16 mins
Substitutes
Cole Butler (for Franklin)
Brett Longden (for Syme)
Diogo Freitas-Gouviea (for Tearle)
Ade Gbolahan (for Rhiney) – GOAL 85 mins
Stephen Gleeson was unused
Leighton Town
Daniel Hosier
Tolu Ikuyinminu
Charlie Pattison
Sam McClelland
Lewis Thorpe (C)
Kyal Williams
Luke Pyman
Sydney Ibie
Godlove Oppong
BJ Christie
Anthony Ball
Substitutes
Rio Dasilva (for Williams)
Jack Sayell (for Christie)
Leo Farruch (for Oppong)
Ben Farrell & Yusuf Sankoh were unused
Referee: Toby Carlisle
Attendance: 759
Report by Roy Izzard
Photos by Peter Else