Report
The Champions were in town and deserve full credit for winning the title with games to spare and a country mile ahead of their closest competitor, Peterborough Sports, who, coincidentally, are Hitchin’s opponents on Easter Monday. It seems a long time ago that the corresponding fixture was played at Banbury, and I recall at the time the consensus that this was the team that was going to set the pace, and they did. Continued success brought higher attendances and the club thoroughly deserves its promotion, which was saluted by a guard of honour from the hosts before the kick-off, which I thought was a nice touch.
Banbury did the double over Hitchin today, but even their own supporters conceded that the better team lost, since the Puritans endured consistent pressure from a youthful line-up that included no fewer than six teenagers.
This was partly due to existing injuries, and kept me say at once that every member of this young Canary side played with enthusiasm and exuberance, and were desperately unlucky not to score, being denied by the post and the crossbar on three occasions and also by notable saves from Puritan goalkeeper Ben Taylor and a vital goal-line clearance from Kelvin Langmead.
I know it is incongruous to say the better team lost so I had better put this into perspective. From the outset Hitchin were on the attack with some free-flowing and confident football, with Jake Hutchinson almost doing what he almost did at Nuneaton, that is to snatch an opening goal in the opening minute. What a difference a bit of good fortune like that would have made. This effort cleared the bar, and although Hitchin went on to have more possession and the greater ideas, it was expected that Banbury would show how experience can contain youthful vigour. They did, and in a creditable manner but only after this game went into its last quarter.
The difference was in the finishing. Hitchin were striking damp matches hoping one would ignite, and Banbury awaited their chance and then let off a dazzling couple of fireworks. As Champions they cannot expect to dazzle every game, but they defended well, and much to their credit, kept their patience and showed just how to finish. The second goal in particular was universally acclaimed as being a finish of the highest order.
Hitchin’s young guns could not steady their aim, but the chances kept coming. Rio Dasilva shot wide, as did Kye Tearle. Both would have done better to steady themselves before letting fly. Johnny Allotey was active and enthusiastic, getting a decent shot on target but a slight deflection took the sting out of the shot. Tearle’s run and shot looked promising but again the finish was a routine save from Taylor.
When the visitors did make progress forward they were caught off-side three times in succession, Max Hercules twice and Henry Landers the once. A good chance came from the left when Sam Brown had a belter of a long throw that needed precise defending and Stan Georgiou’s was equal to this. Brown did send in another cross which Horlock held, in one of the few occasions he was called to duty in this first half.
With Banbury being so surprisingly muted, this was the time to snaffle a goal, but alas it did not come despite the possession, the creativity and the numerous goal attempts that were just a little disappointing. The one moment when it seemed that Hitchin would take a lead to the interval it was denied them with Langmead’s wonderful goal-line clearance. Had that gone in it would have only been what Hitchin deserved. Even so it had been a more or less satisfactory first half for the hosts and we wondered whether they could maintain this pressure against a team that looked just a little flat, a little off-colour. Banbury officials praised Hitchin’s play as much as they criticised their own team. Significantly one of them said that it might turn into the kind of game where they would snatch a late winner.
It was expected that the Puritans would employ substitutes, and they used all three and it did make a difference insofar as one of them scored the memorable second goal with just minutes remaining. Banbury improved their play without really slipping into top gear. Nevertheless it is a sign of a good side that can endure pressure and then make a deadly strike. Having said that it must be added that they were blessed with some good fortune as this half was remarkable that just the frame of the goal prevented at least three successes, and when Hitchin did find the net, Johnny Allotey’s remarkable double-somersault of a celebration was all in vain as he had not noticed the off-side flag.
The patent corner was tried, with Hutchinson testing Taylor. Then there was a free-kick for Hitchin, just outside the area, and I smiled at the home fan who said that the offender did not have the decency to commit his outrage inside the penalty area. As it was a delightful strike from Dasilva rebounded off the crossbar and once more, frustratingly the deserved goal did not materialise. Popoola, ever eager was fouled on a run and Tearle’s well struck shot was saved by Taylor. It intrigued me that Banbury made a number of unforced errors but usually recovered without any loss of dignity. A cunning cross from Alex Brown saw Hutchinson deft flick that went just wide. He just needed to get a little more pace and direction.
Henry Landers tried a shot that Horlock held and his later cross was stoutly defended. Allotey’s shot had too much bobble and Stan Georgiou seemed to put his entire body in the way of the next Banbury effort. Then it was a déjà vu moment. Yes, the concession of a free-kick (which was hotly disputed) in the usual dangerously inviting area. I wrote ‘defend’ in my notes as if it were a prayer rather than an instruction and if it was seen as so it was unanswered as Jay Williams obligingly converted the set piece. Seventy-eight minutes of enthralling but unrewarded pressure had been undone in a moment of deadly execution.
A Banbury supporter next to me made the point, which he underlined for good measure, that his team did not deserve that lead. I agreed to a point but will reiterate that it is the mark of a good team to absorb pressure and then make the most of a set-piece. No good disputing the free-kick as since the referee said it was – it was. Even so it was most dispiriting as some were beginning to feel that the game would end as a goal-less draw and that one point could be a major factor of survival. Until this moment Hitchin were deserving of maximum points.
This was itself underlined when Ciaren Jones sent in a shot that – would you Adam and Eve it, hit the post again and then Georgiou shaped his body as they say and sent in a powerful drive that I hoped would be his first goal, but Taylor’s save drew deserved applause. An inch here, an inch there and Hitchin would have been in front and rising in the table. Then there was a corner and from this Allotey slipped the ball past Taylor and his double-somersault was the better part of valour as his celebration turned to a head holding like Munch’s painting of ‘The Scream’. The off-side flag was raised imperiously. Some on the terraces behaved in similar fashion. What an equaliser that would have been.
But that was the best of it for Hitchin as with three minutes of normal time to go, a swift and effective move on the left saw substitute Jack Stevens seal the victory with a goal of notable quality. ‘That’, said another Banbury supporter, ‘is reminiscent of the goals we have been scoring all season’ He again emphasised that Hitchin did not deserve to lose the game but here was so little time left but even so the lads tried hard to obtain some compensation. I have never been more proud of a Hitchin performance, given the fact that the emphasis was of youth against experience, exuberance against measured containment. It had been a good game and you may think it is home bias but in all honesty this was one game that the Canaries deserved more for their enterprise and daring against a team that has been outstanding in this season’s league campaign.
Naturally we wish Banbury well in the Conference North and hope they can meet the considerable challenge it will bring. Hitchin now look from the first placed terms to the second – namely Peterborough Sports at Lincoln Road. This is the penultimate game, and although results favoured Hitchin today, matters might yet be decided when Bromsgrove Rovers are the visitors for the last game next Saturday.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, Alex Brown, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Sponsors’ man of the match, Stan Georgiou, Ciaren Jones, Josh Popoola, Rio Dasilva, Jacob Hutchinson, Makalki Black, Johnny Allotey.
Unused substitutes- Stephen Cawley, James Peters, Jack Green, Stephen Gleeson.
BANBURY UNITED
Ben Taylor, James Golding, Sam Brown,(Morgan Roberts), Alex Babos, Kelvin Langmead, cautioned, Jay Williams, GOAL, 78 MINUTES, Henry Landers, Giorgio Rasulo, captain, Chris Wreh, Aidan Hawtin, Max Hercules, (Jack Stevens, GOAL, 87 MINUTES ) . Other subs – Jack Harding and Benjamin Acquaye.
Referee – Mr Alan Cresswell, assisted by Mr Darren Knox and Mr Dylan Ing.
Attendance 575
REPORT BY PIPEMAN
