Report
Hitchin’s proud unbeaten away league record came to a sorry end with a below par performance at Leverstock Green. Manager Michael Jones did not hide his disappointment at the performance and result in an after match interview. He said Leverstock Green deserved their win and wanted victory more than Hitchin. The first half was not great and he felt the defending was ‘’rubbish’’ and the goals conceded ‘’embarrassing’’ and he could take no positives from the performance.
There was one change from the Ware game with Charlie Briggs replacing Toby Syme. The pitch was difficult as it was heavy and sticky making quick passing out of the question. Hitchin played down the slope in the first half and there was a scrappy start to the game. Callum Kane produced a good run and shot that was blocked while Ciaren Jones headed a Callum Nicolson corner wide.
Tyler McGregor punched away a dangerous free kick after 18 minutes and then made an excellent save from Dan Pett. Kye Tearle shot over the bar before Hitchin took the lead after 30 minutes. Lewis Franklin was fouled in the penalty area and Taylor Rhiney produced his usual clinical penalty. Liam Brooks shot wide after a good move but Leverstock Green should have equalised on 42 minutes when Jeffrey Sekyere shot high and wide when he should have scored.
Rhiney headed over a Jones cross early in the second half but really poor defending in the 59th minute saw Carmichael Uchenna set up Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica to smash home. Things got worse for Hitchin when McGregor was adjudged to have fouled Joe McCarthy in the area and Sekyere scored after 74 minutes.
Hitchin received a lifeline after 76 minutes when a third penalty was awarded after Kane was fouled and Rhiney again scored emphatically. At this point Hitchin would have taken a point but there was again poor defending in the 84th minute as Uchenna set up substitute Iker Noguera Leon to score what proved the winning goal.
With Leighton winning Hitchin are now 6 points behind the league leaders but they must not dwell on this sub standard performance and return to the high standards they have been setting all season. On their day Hitchin can beat any of their rivals and they must remain positive going forward. It is imperative that next Saturday Beaconsfield see the real Hitchin Town and three points are secured.
Leverstock Green
Ashton Broome-Alexander
Kombe Kawimbe
Rio Beach
Dan Pett (C)
Carmichael Uchenna
Joe McCarthy
George Mitchell-Gears
Jeffrey Sekyere – GOAL 74 mins (pen)
Marcus Warren
Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica – GOAL 59 mins
Olusegun Adedipe
Substitutes:
Ryan Carruthers (for Warren)
Dan Casey (for Adedipe)
Callum Donnelly (for Uchenna)
Iker Noguera Leon (for Stefanoaica) – GOAL 84 mins
Jack Allen was unused.
Hitchin Town
Tyler McGregor
Kye Tearle
Callum Kane
Brett Longden
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C)
Liam Brooks
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney – GOALS 30 (pen), 76 (pen)
Lewis Franklin
Callum Nicolson
Substitutes:
Toby Syme (for Longden)
Kavan Cotter (for Coldicott-Stevens)
Diogo Freitas-Gouveia (for Brooks)
Blue Joy and Fernando Bell-Toxtle were unused.
Referee: Teddy Osborn
Attendance: 184