Report
Our visitors came to Top Field looking for points, since they were not satisfied with sixteenth position. Hitchin, who had they held on to their lead at Lowestoft, would have climbed tentatively bout if the relegation places, but the loss placed them back second from bottom.
The home side had made some changes with Rio Deall, Bradley Smith and Liam Brooks among the substitutes and starts for Bradley Bell and the Stokoe brothers. A pleasing statistic was the fact that Hitchin had won their last four games at home, and were anxious to make it five on the trot, and cast a veil over the somewhat poor away record.
The was also sunshine and a relatively mild temperature, which was very welcome. The Huntingdonshire team were in a changed strip of all orange and kicked off with a degree of eagerness but had to defend an early attack but soon had a free kick in the Hitchin half. This was quite good but Okonkwo gathered easily.
A long throw from Aaron Smith was exploratory in nature and suggested that this would be a feature. Another free kick for the Saints was put in by Meade to no effect and Hitchin tried a counter move that was broken down. Early pressure from the visitors was quite apparent and Hitchin chased to get some possession. There was a promising move on the right, following a throw in but it was dealt with, yet Luke Stokoe managed a shot that Wilks saved and the corner was dealt with adequately.
So far this had been a stuttering performance by the hosts who had, however prevented any direct shots on their goal, and had now two decent efforts against the Saints’ goal. Dixon – Smith asked questions with his cross and a corner saw Titchmarsh have a go, but it was easy for Wilks. Smith’s long throw was headed away but still the Saints probed, but some of the efficiency was missing. Then, with a great run and finish, a memorable goal was nabbed, from the right, by Lewis Franklin after twenty- one minutes. His great strike, following his run, found the top left corner and it certainly injected Hitchin with confidence, with their play becoming more fluid.
Pereira had a decent shot for St Ives, which was put out for a corner by Okonkwo and this led to a charge up field by Hitchin and it brought some firm defending at the expense of a corner and an inaccurate shot on goal. But Hitchin had overcome an indifferent start and had a precious lead.
Another long throw was cleared by Jones and then a free kick was conceded on the edge of the area, defended by Gleeson. Hitchin won a corner somewhat cunningly, Another followed and almost brought a second goal. A counter from the Saints was spoiled by Syme and Jones who were both working at full capacity. A St Ives free kick saw Okonkwo unable to hold but his defenders were there to clear the danger.
Wilks was down to cut out a cross from the right and there were about ten minutes to half time. Holding onto this lead was vital. Monday’s persistence brought a chance and then a clearance provided Bell with with an opportunity but it was not an easy one. St Ives attacked again with plenty of balls into the area but no shots were forthcoming.
There was a fair amount of pressure and a catastrophic error from Okonkwo permitted Munday to slot home an easy equaliser after forty- two minutes. It was a savage bow as the visitors had only managed one shot on target. At least their celebration was muted. Just two minutes were added and restoring the lead had a hint of achievement with an attack along the right, but this was ably defended. An injury to Pereira extended the half to fifty-one minutes. Home supporters were understandably scornful of the manner which allowed the swift equaliser, but a simple mistake can never be ruled out. Okonkwo was the last player to leave the pitch for the interval and he looked crestfallen and with good cause as his unintentional pass instead of a lusty clearance had let the Saints in and from there they were unyielding.
St Ives made two substitutions, with Allen and Pereira giving way to Mensah and Hadi. Hitchin began with good intent and some errant passing. There was an early corner that was defended with some desperation but it was enough to rule out the goal chance.
St Ives responded with a corner which was delayed for the usual reprimand but it was well defended. A good move from Hitchin saw Bell caught offside and Odell- Bature, already wearing the blood shirt went off injured to be replaced by Kye Tearle. Daniel Stokoe panicked with his shot that cleared the leafless trees. Jones’ forward ball was a fine idea but Bell strayed offside again.
A long throw from the Saints was despatched forward and culminated in a fine strike from Titchmarsh that was only inches away from success. Bell was labouring up front and was closely marked. He went off to be replaced by Rio Deall. Jones’ forward ball was delightfully accurate, aimed at Deall who was clearly offside but could not resist putting the ball into the net.
Then there was an incident that resulted in a Hitchin free kick at about twenty yards, centrally positioned. There was a good kick from Jones that Wilks punched out with some power. Hadi had a moment of cleverness but it was well interpreted and the next Hitchin attack was defended by Smith. An over hit corner saw the chance go. Munday replicated this at the other end. Tearle could have done better with his delivery but at this stage the hosts looked likelier to score but it seemed a daunting task.
A Saints free kick sailed over the bar and Hitchin tried an attack from the left but it broke down and a ponderous moment saw another good chance go. Brooks then replaced Gleeson to add to the attacking options. Syme’s pass saw Brooks shoot and narrowly miss.
The fact that the Saints began to waste time in a subtle fashion seemed to indicate that they would settle for a point. But Hitchin’s enterprising play deserved reward. A corner saw Jones power a header that Wilks held. Faced with a necessary back pass Okonkwo was again unsteady and Jones was there to deny Munday any progress and he then went off to be replaced by Makanjuola.
A frantic Hitchin attack brought a corner that was again confidently defended. The recurring thought was if only we had not gifted a goal and if only Williams had not cleared from the line where a goal looked certain. The hosts could not be faulted for effort. A zealous challenge from Syme conceded a free kick on the edge of the area, quite wide on the left. This caused mayhem until Okonkwo gathered and again Hitchin set up for a forward move. This brought a free kick and an attempted delivery from Titchmarsh but the Saints stood tall in defence.
Deall fell over in a blatant attempt to win a free kick and a Brooks effort struck the side netting . We were now perilously close to full time and the denial of a fifth consecutive home win. Brooks and Franklin began a move that did not fulfil its promise. Then came the final whistle and the knowledge that two points had been squandered and two points we could ill afford to drop. But credit goes to the stalwart Saints who had defended with skill and perseverance.
HITCHIN TOWN
Brian Okonkwo, Lewis Franklin, Sponsors’ and this reporter’s man of the match, GOAL, 21 Minutes, 1-0, Bradley Dixon- Smith, Toby Syme, Joshua Odell- Bature, (Kye Tearle), Ciaren Jones, captain, mentioned in despatches, Bradley Bell, (Rio Deall), Stephen Gleeson, (Liam Brooks), Daniel Stokoe, Luke Stokoe, Harry Titchmarsh.
Unused substitutes, Bradley Snith and Enock Ekongo.
ST IVES TOWN
Daniel Wilks, Ethan Creary, (Jordan Williams, opposition star man), Aaron Smith, Jernade Meade, Luca Miller, (Habib Makanjuola), Alex Collard, captain, Peter Abimbola, William Glennon, Joshua Allen, (Amir Hadi), Sidney Pereira, (Ben Mensah), George Munday, GOAL 42 minutes, 1-1. Substitute not used: Edmund Hottor.
REFEREE: Mr C Charles, assisted by Mr A Wheaton and Mr A Jones.
ATTENDANCE: 649
REPORT BY PIPEMAN