Report
This was indeed a curious game, with Hitchin having an underwhelming first half where they went behind in seven minutes following, yes, you may have guessed it, the concession of a free-kick in an inviting position for the hosts, who took full advantage, with a wonderful strike from Jayden Charles.
Oddly, the hosts seemed much better than they were, as Hitchin were undeniably poor, playing with a lack of composure and struggling to get possession. Recent games had seen a resurgence of skill and confidence and much was expected from them against a side that has been with us in the struggle against relegation and as desperate as us for points.
Surprisingly, this was Hitchin’s first ever visit to Liberty Way, even though we have been in the same division for a couple of seasons. The pandemic and the curtailed seasons put paid to earlier visits and it was a game that travelling supporters felt that there was something to be achieved from this game.
They did in some ways, by having much the better second half, pulling a goal back with twenty minutes to go, but although the ideas were there, the execution was not. Even so, home supporters were greatly relieved by the final whistle as their team, vastly superior in the first half, needed to defend with precision in the second period that reached a sad climax in stoppage time with the dismissal of Lewis Barker for, I presume, violent conduct.
Along with Jack Green and Steve Cawley needing replacement through injury, it would seem that Hitchin will face the concluding games with a very limited choice. Dan Webb, two games away from 400 appearances could not make it one to go as he failed a fitness test. Kye Tearle, one of the substitutes employed showed some sharpness after his loan period at Kempston Rovers.
But, realistically speaking, it was highly improbable that having conceded two goals, that the team could turn this around, since the consensus was that the first half rankles as the poorest first half of the season. It was quite astonishing to see what a struggle it was, and the piped music during the interval had a song whose lyrics included the line that ‘wherever I looked, things went wrong.’
Mind you, right at the start there was a hooked shot from Rio Dasilva, after assistance from Steve Cawley that all but clipped the far post. That would have been a start to savour. Further chances followed but defending was strong, and counter play was immediate. Ahmed Obeng and Charlie Dowd both looked dangerous, and a cross needed Horlock to hold well. Green’s forward ball to Hutchinson was cleared by McManus.
This was the best of it for Hitchin in this poor first period and the team was soon pegged back in their own half with a decent chance from Obeng that went wide. The seventh minute goal, a beauty of a strike from a free-kick increased the difficulty, scored as already noted, by Jayden Charles. Yes, we are used to this happening, but we don’t like it. Poor passing from Hitchin was also in evidence and this was clearly shown that one cross saw Jack Green head over the bar but the ball had already gone out of play.
Nuneaton could not help but dominate, and it was clear that they wanted to capitalise on Hitchin’s waywardness all over the pitch. It was all the more painful since recent performances have been earnest and impressive. As they laboured to perform there were those of us who felt that we might be on the wrong end of a high score, especially as Tony Breeden spent an untroubled half. He was no doubt pleased that anything that came his way was either an over hit cross or a measured back pass.
Another free-kick was conceded and we expected Charles to have another crack at goal, wide on the left. This was headed away but it enable a home shot that struck the side netting. Another attack on the left saw a deflected cross that favoured Horlock and when he needed treatment for a knock we saw the only real piece of coordination from Hitchin as they positioned themselves for a drinks break. Yes it was as bad as that. Horlock saw one shot strike his body but there was a follow-up and a second goal, which was scored by Isiah Osbourne close to the half hour mark.
There was a tinge of inevitability about this and it did not inspire Hitchin to a higher level of play. Malaki Black was cautioned and then replaced by Lewis Barker. Another Nuneaton shot struck Horlock and went for a corner. Another goal looked likely for the hosts but some good defending prevented this but if ever a half time lecture was needed it was now – and in some ways Hitchin were fortunate to be only two goals to the bad. One home fan asked our programme editor if he knew his mate who had moved to Hitchin. No, said Mr Editor. It reminded me of an American I met in Germany who asked me if I knew his particular friend who lived in Fulham, which he pronounced Full-Ham. I said no as well.
So, half-time and back to the crowded bar where our officials had been placed on table eleven and before the game as we sat there I had the impression that we had taken a break at a service station. The board room was not used at this match. We were not a happy bunch and no-one can accuse Hitchin supporters for being unrealistic. The observer, who had been talking to our chairman gave the opinion that it would be progressively more difficult for Hitchin and that it was going to rain.
Well, we were bathed in sunshine, Hitchin pulled a goal back and may well have snatched an equaliser. The ideas were there, as I have said, but not the crisp execution. All three substitutes were used. Black had gone for Barker and Tearle had come on for Jack Green who had taken a knock. Josh Popoola also came in for Steve Cawley. I am pleased to report that the second half showing was an all round improvement and it served to expose Nuneaton’s weaknesses. This was not before time and the goal, scored by Hutchinson, with twenty-odd minutes to go. He hooked the ball beyond Breeden, and I noted that this came from a swift move involving two direct and accurate passes. We needed more of this, but Nuneaton were able to defend well, with Magunda and McManus often getting in the way. Breeden seemed a little uncomfortable about being called into real action, but he committed no errors and on one occasion recovered well when he and Hutchinson contested a loose ball in the six yard box.
Tearle looked sharp and persisted along the flank, Coldicott-Stevens was equally persistent in midfield and Dasilva never stopped contesting. With route one attempts ruled out by Nuneaton’s two centre halves winning aerial contests. The best chances did come from playing out from the back and then along the flanks, with Alex Brown and Kye Tearle doing very well. Nuneaton probably did not want to hang on to their one goals lead but add to it – yet they were a lot less effective than they had been – and right at the end when they performed the usual time -eating bit at the corner flag saw Barker bite back and receive a straight red card for his actions. This may well be a serious blow to the team that face the last few games with a threadbare squad owing to injuries and the forthcoming suspension of Barker.
The memory of the underwhelming first half performance might just take away the nation that had Hitchin have scored a late equaliser this would have been deserved and emphasis must be placed on the fine improvement in play in the second half. Nuneaton had further chances from free-kicks and corners, but in open play they could not break through and the home crowd was indeed relieved by the final whistle as their team had bagged three vital points – but with a bit more good fortune for Hitchin it may well have been only one. Thus Nuneaton were avenged for their loss at Hitchin by the same score.
It was just as well that results elsewhere favoured Hitchin to some degree, but the relegation situation is still unclear. One result of note was that Hitchin’s next opponents, champions Banbury had won 6-2 and dispensed with the notion that once they had secured the title they would lose incentive and impetus. They will come to Top Field with every intention of paying like champions and the challenge to Hitchin could not be greater. We hope that the lamentable first half performance against one of the weaker teams may be filed away and inspiration taken from the creditable manner that the Canaries played in the second half and came closer to a point than some may be willing to concede. I underline this as in the bar afterwards, the home player of the match had his presentation delayed whilst opinion was expressed that his team had very nearly blown it. That was a significant admission.
As it was it was Hitchin who had done this, having taken forty-five minutes to discover some kind of rhythm. Rhythm, co-ordination, spirit and skill are needed in these vital last games, and we enter this last phase knowing that all three of our remaining opponents won today – and significantly Bromsgrove’s victory many well make our last match at home to them a deciding factor.
NUNEATON BOROUGH
Tony Breeden, Aaron Forde, Jayden Charles, GOAL, 7 MINUTES, Isiah Osbourne, GOAL, 27 MINUTES, Joseph Magunda, Scott McManus, captain Ahmed Obeng, (Gregory Kazibone), Charlie Dowd, (Shaquille Master), Anthony Dwyer, Revarnelle James, (Luke Benbow). Substitutes not used- Chukwuemaka Beejer, Luke Shearer.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Jack Green, (Kye Tearle), Alex Brown, Stephen Gleeson, Stanley Georgiou, Ciaren Jones, Joshua Coldicott-Stevens, Rio Dasilva, Jacob Hutchinson, GOAL, 72 MINUTES, Stephen Cawley,( Joshua
Popoola), Malaki Black, cautioned, (Lewis Barker, dismissed straight red card). Unused substitutes – Ben Stevens and Johnny Allotey.
Referee- Mr Liam Corbett assisted by Mr Ben Wilkinson and Mr Fabio Greenwood.
Attendance 554
REPORT BY PIPEMAN