Report
This was another disappointing performance from Hitchin and Leighton Town are now strong favorites to win the league as they only need eight points from their final five games. Michael Jones made one change to the starting line up from the Welwyn game with Taylor Rhiney replacing Liam Brooks who dropped to the bench.
Flackwell Heath proved determined opponents and worked really hard all game closing Hitchin down and not allowing any space to play their normal passing football. This meat Hitchin struggled to create any clear cut chances. The game had a scrappy start and a rock hard pitch led to the ball bouncing erratically. With an over fussy referee it was never going to be an entertaining watch.
The only goal of the game came after Brett Langden made an excellent interception at the expense of a corner. He was injured in the process so per protocol had to leave the field of play. From the corner Jack Shakespeare headed firmly home. After 39 minutes Hitchin had their first shot but Rhiney put his effort over the bar. A Callum Nicolson corner caused alarm but Flackwell Heath manage to clear the danger and Hitchin went in at half-time a goal down.
Hitchin made a more urgent start to the second half but Flackwell Heath had the best chance after 60 minutes when Lindell Stewart shot wide from a good position. Charlie Briggs shot well wide after 63 minutes which then saw a triple substitution for Hitchin with Fernando Toxtle-Bell, Will McNeill and Brooks coming on. Diogo Freitas-Gouveia also came on soon after but in all honesty Hitchin rarely looked like troubling Henry Upstell in the Flackwell Heath goal.
Hitchin cannot dwell on the last two games and must get back to winning ways over Easter. It is important to secure second place to ensure home advantage in the play-off games. The supporters must continue to get behind the team and not get frustrated by a temporary blip in form.
Flackwell Heath
Henry Upstell
Ryan Avery
Lewis Patrick
Neilon Pascall
Sean McGuinness
Lewis Pegg (C)
Jamie Ayers
Ben Stallard
Lindell Stewart
Jack Shakespeare – GOAL 36 mins
Eli Grant
Substitutes:
Josh Sapwell (for Pascal)
Matt Roberts (for Grant)
Bruce Ovbiye Nsang (for Stewart)
Rio Oat-Ut (for Ayers)
Larry Kagwa was unused.
Hitchin Town
Tyler McGregor
Josh Jackman
Callum Kane
Brett Longden
Charlie Briggs
Ciaren Jones (C)
Kavan Cotter
Josh Coldicott-Stevens
Taylor Rhiney
Lewis Franklin
Callum Nicolson
Substitutes:
Will McNeill (for Jackman)
Blue Joy (for Longden)
Fernando Bell-Toxtle (for Coldicott-Stevens)
Diogo Freitas-Gouveia (for Cotter)
Liam Brooks (for Rhiney)
Referee: Abdulaziz Olol
Attendance: 316