Report
This was a hard earned victory for Hitchin as they extended their unbeaten league run to 14 games. Flackwell Heath proved difficult opponents and made a very fast start to the game. Indeed in the opening six minutes Hitchin could easily have gone behind. In the first minute Tyler McGregor was caught in possession but the shot went over the bar and Josh Jackman made a good challenge to block another shot before Ciaren Jones cleared off the line from Juwon Akintunde. But then in their first proper attack Kye Tearle set Lewis Franklin free and he produced an excellent forward surge before ending it with a clinical finish after 7 minutes. Franklin and Tearle have both had productive seasons and have scored so many vital goals from midfield this season .
The goal settled Hitchin and they began to produce some good passing football. Plenty of chances were created with Tearle, Franklin and Callum Nicolson all forcing goalkeeper Henry Upstell into action around the 20 minute mark. Taylor Rhiney and Franklin both saw shots go wide before McGregor made a fine save from Akintunde after 35 minutes. Then Josh Coldicott-Stevens’ shot was fumbled by Upstell but the rebound went begging. The half ended with Rhiney heading over a Tearle cross. But after the slow start Hitchin deserved their half-time lead.
The second half saw Flackwell Heath really come at Hitchin but the defending was solid. Eli Grant shot just over the bar but generally McGregor was well protected by his defenders. On 63 minutes Stephen Gleeson and Fernando Bell-Toxtle replaced Tearle and Coldicott-Stevens, and it was clear Hitchin needed a second goal against dangerous opponents, It came after 72 minutes and good work down the right hand side featuring Franklin and Gleeson ended with Callum Mapley deflecting the ball into his own net. Jones had a header cleared off the line after 84 minutes and Hitchin managed the end of the game really well to cement the 2-0 score line.
Against competent opponents this was a very good win for Hitchin with another clean sheet. They were prepared to dig in when necessary but produced good attacking play as well. The excellent attendance of 629 had plenty of reasons to depart Top Field smiling broadly.
Hitchin Town
Tyler McGregor
Josh Jackman
Callum Kane – Sponsor’s MOTM
Brett Longden
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C)
Kye Tearle
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney
Lewis Franklin – GOAL 6 mins
Callum Nicolson
*Second Hitchin Town goal was an own goal
Substitutes:
Stephen Gleeson (for Coldicott-Stevens)
Liam Brooks (for Franklin)
Toby Syme (for Nicolson)
Fernando Bell-Toxtle (for Tearle)
Ade Gbolahan was unused
Flackwell Heath
Henry Upstell
Ryan Avery
Lewis Patrick
Lewis Pegg (C)
Callum Mapley
Sean McGuinness
Jamie Ayers
Matty Ayers
Juwon Akintunde
Nnaemeka Anyanwu
Lucas Wynn
Substitutes:
Eli Grant (for J Ayers)
Michael Bampoh (for Anyanwu)
Harry Mepham (for Akintunde)
Ben Stallard and Medo Konte were unused
Referee: Andrew Bower
Attendance: 629