Report
Another point gained, for which we must be grateful since if Micheal Gash’s late effort had gone in instead of hitting a post, it would have been a bitter defeat indeed. As it is, Hitchin remain third from bottom and have played a game or two more than their fellow strugglers.
Today we had an Archbishop Desmond of a score – ‘Two-Two’ in a game that was tense and entertaining and of course the form book made play-off placed Sports the favourites to win – and, as I have said, they very nearly did. That would have been hard on Hitchin who once more had their Achilles heel on show, being outdone by set-pieces or, really, upset pieces. The hosts’ preponderance of giving away free-kicks in inviting areas undid much off the good work done hitherto.
Jack Green’s injury meant that Stan Georgiou obligingly filled in at number two, a role he filled with typical exuberance. The rain had cleared up and conditions were good apart from a tricky breeze, and home hearts were hoping. Hitchin began well, with Hutchinson having a blocked shot, but there was a warning from Sports whose free-kick from a central position saw Lewis Hilliard blast his effort over the bar.
This warning became more intensified when the agile Kyjuon Marsh-Brown pulled the trigger from close range and would probably have opened the scoring but for the intervening challenge from Steve Cawley. Hitchin were looking a little vulnerable in defence as The Turbines notched up the power with some slick passing moves and exploited hasty and inaccurate clearances. A shot from Marsh-Brown was held by Horlock.
A Hitchin ‘patent’ corner was tried with only moderate success and it led to an immediate counter attack, which, having been broken down, saw a Hitchin long clearance that found Steve Cawley whose deft assistance found the unmarked Jake Hutchinson who, free on goal, let fly and his finish was cool – nay sublime….. and Hitchin were ahead after twenty-one minutes.
Understandably this was met with renewed vigour from the Turbines who may well have felt that this goal was a trifle cheeky since they had asked most of the questions so far. But Hitchin are learning to keep their focus and were well aware that defending a lead has often proved difficult.
Dan Jarvis, who had an outstanding game (despite some prolonged whinging), combined well with Marsh-Brown and the former put in a fine shot that was only a whisker wide. Hutchinson obliged in the same manner at the other end but was caught off-side. Slick movement from Sports was beginning to look increasingly dangerous and once again Hitchin conceded a free-kick in a favourable spot for the opposition. The lead had lasted not even ten minutes when tall skipper Richard Jones planted an unstoppable header and that smartly taken goal served to invigorate the visitors who clearly had regained the initiative with fluent football.
Sports lost Brad McGowan to injury, and he was replaced by Ryan Fryatt. Later in the half there was an unfortunate, accidentally self-inflicted injury sustained by Dion Sembie-Ferris, who twisted an ankle and was in some degree of pain. No Peterborough player attached any blame to an opponent as it was clearly seen as just an unfortunate moment. Sembie-Ferris hobbled off and was replaced by Ryan Hawkins. This setback did not salter the current pattern of the game and once again, oh Lordy, Hitchin ‘chose’ an optimum spot in which to concede another free-kick.
Playing a skipper’s heroic game, Jones received the ball in the area and with some skill he turned and fired his team into the lead from close range, with almost ten minutes to go to the interval. That goal seemed to have a dispiriting effect on Hitchin’s play as in those remaining minutes they failed to threaten.
In conversation with the Sports’ vice-president, he told me that his team had been adept at scoring at set-pieces and of course I grudgingly admitted that we conceded from them with monotonous regularity. He was also of the opinion that Hitchin had played generally well and did not deserve their lowly league position, which we have heard repeatedly but we still conspire to lose games we should at least gain a point from – last week at Leiston was the freshest memory in this department. It always hurts more when you play well enough to draw or even win and lose in the end.
An inspirational second half was needed and of course this cannot occur just for the wishing and the Turbines began the second period strongly, winning as corner in their first attack following a run from Marsh-Brown. Cawley had a half chance at then other end, and a Gleeson free-kick looked strong but was defended. Jones had a wild shot go well wide and Cawley sent another chance over the bar.
A combination between Jarvis and Marsh-Brown brought as corner and a free header went wide. A couple of long throws from Sports caused some discomfort and I am pleased that Canaries’ skipper Dan Webb also tried his luck with this tactic, telling one or two supporters that he had not run so far for many a game. A cross from Luke Brown was intercepted by keeper Paul White who had been largely untroubled so far.
A Hitchin free-kick saw Cawley and the keeper in contention but White snaffled the ball, lifting its from Cawley’s feet. Josh McCammon again tried the long throw and a shot from Hilliard was saved by Horlock. A fine piece of play from Stan Georgiou culminated in Josh Coldicott-Stevens having a go, it was a good shot but it went agonisingly wide. But Hitchin’s play was improving and a smart move enabled Hutchinson to poach the equaliser just after the hour mark for his second goal of the game.The goal came with half an hour remaining and it was a tantalising proposition as to how this would finish.
Gleeson’s thunderbolt of a free-kick was close and then once more hitchin conceded a free-kick, raising anxiety levels among the Hitchin faithful. Horlock saved well from substitute Lamine Kaba- Sherif. A long throw from skipper Dan Webb caused uncertainty in the Turbines’ defence and the referee whimsically dismissed an optimistic penalty appeal from Hitchin.
Marsh-Brown continued to be a thorough nuisance and his shot brought a corner, and the shot following this was held by a thankful Horlock. Fine, constructive moves from Peterborough kept the Hitchin defence busy and Kaba-Sherif saw his next effort again held by Horlock, who seemed to be in a little pain. Towards the end, the visitors were pressing hard and right at the end we almost howled in relief as Michael Gash’s late effort struck the post and was kept out – just. In other games it has been Hitchin’s bad luck to concede a goal in such a situation. That post earned Hitchin a point and it would have been hard had they lost it so late on. At last a little good fortune, but a draw against one of the division’s top teams is not too be sniffed at, and we were quietly pleased that results elsewhere were a little favourable from a Hitchin point of view.
So, given that late let-off, this was a gritty Hitchin performance but it does not need me to remind anyone that there is still a major task ahead to steer towards safety. Two of the remaining league fixtures – Lowestoft at home and Nuneaton away are extra crucial – but they are all vital in the hunt for points.
There is a brief respite from League encounters when, on Tuesday (15 March), Hitchin travel to Cheshunt for the semi-final of the Hertfordshire Senior Cup, and we recall that it was this fellow county team that eliminated us from the FA Cup. Possible silverware in a domestic competition is quite desirable but we know that the central aim of the club is to avoid the drop and the continuing high attendances would suggest that the town is behind us in this aim. The team is determined not to let them down.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Stan Georgiou, Alex Brown, Stephen Gleeson, Dan Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, cautioned, Lewis Barker, Jacob Hutchinson,TWO GOALS, 21 AND 61 MINUTES, Stephen Cawley, Sponsors’ Man of the Match, Malaki Black, cautioned.
Substitutes- all unused,
Rio Dasilva, Ben Stevens, Michael Conlon, Johnny Allotey, Joshua Popoola.
PETERBOROUGH SPORTS
Paul White, Dan Jarvis, Luke Warner- Eley, Brad McGowan, (Ryan Fryatt), Richard Jones, opposition star man, TWO GOALS, 30 AND 37 MINUTES, cautioned, Daniel Lawlor, Dion Sembie-Ferris, (Ryan Hawkins), Lewis Hilliard, (Lamine Kaba-Sherif), Michael Gash, Joshua McCammon, Kyjuon Marsh-Brown. Unused substitutes- Bradley Rolt, Johnny Herd.
Referee- Mr J Woolmark, assisted by Mr H Price and Mr S Laidler.
Attendance 496
REPORT BY PIPEMAN