Report
‘We are staying up, say we are staying up’, went the chant on this St George’s Day, but we knew that before the kick-off, after Biggleswade Town’s loss to Tamworth on Thursday. But it was worth telling the world at large.
To end the season on a winning note was especially welcome as the three points meant that Hitchin finished outside the bottom three and thus not needing the mathematical points per game ‘safety net’.
Today was a a special day in any case with the retirement of club captain, Dan Webb who came on as a late substitute to make his four hundredth and final appearance to great acclaim and affection from the Top Field faithful.
It was in front of the second largest home attendance of the season, with 777 coming through the gates in a pay what you want game.
Both Bromsgrove Sporting and Hitchin knew they were safe from relegation and it did take the competitive edge of this last game of the season, yet it did not lack effort, with play being enterprising but largely ineffective. It was end to end but error strewn and Jake Hutchinson’s goal, following masterly assistance from Steve Cawley was the high point. We were indeed lucky to see a goal in this game that seemed destined to be a dull draw.
We can forgive sponsors, The Flag Brigade, announcing that Dan Webb was man of the match and he had been on the pitch for about a minute. It was their tribute and no-one will criticise that their hearts ruled their heads. It was a popular choice and it is not all that common for a player to play so many games for one club. A more objective choice would be Jake Hutchinson whose goal separated the clubs and no player has worked harder in the struggle for survival.
It was a nice touch that all players lined up to give Dan Webb a guard of honour. When the players came out before the kick-off. He was a named substitute but still wore the number five shirt and Stan Georgiou, surely our young player of the season, wore the number fifteen. There was a bit of a breeze on this cold day and opening exchanges were even. Sporting were just a little more creative, but the vital pass was invariably inaccurate. This sort of thing happened to Hitchin as well. It is important to relate that this was not ever an end of season kick-about since both clubs will regard that they have under performed and have strived to put this right. In so doing every game is of an intensity to find success on the field of play.
The corresponding fixture ended as a narrow 1-0 victory for Sporting and today’s game bore some similarities. We had a potentially dramatic moment when, following a Sports’ corner, Jonathan Letford attempted a scissor kick but it ended high in the open terracing. Barnes-Homer’s able assistance gave Josh Dugmore a chance but he too could only fire into the terracing.
Forward moves from both teams were effectively undone by precise defending. Could something come from the dreaded set piece? Well, Bromsgrove had one soon enough which Quaynor hit into the defensive wall.
A good move from McGrath, Goddard and Perkins saw the last name get in a shot which hit the junction of the post and crossbar.
A corner from Coldicott-Stevens was cleared and Stan Georgiou cleared another Sports effort, and Barnes-Homer shot wide. Cawley, Hutchinson and Tearle combined but the cross was too close to keeper Oliver Taylor. Dasilva’s optimistic shot was well wide of the intended target. The closest we came to a goal was from Mr Grath’s header after assistance from Perkins- but it proved routine for Horlock. Raison headed over from a Quaynor corner.
Hitchin had not threatened nearly enough in this half and right before the interval there was a headed effort from Hutchinson that was easily held.
The half had shown Bromsgrove Sports to have been the more creative and the consensus was that the game badly needed a goal to enliven proceedings. The busiest person in the ground was the chap in the Mr Whippy ice-cream van, which was a little surprising on such a cool day.
Bromsgrove officials are pleasingly old-school with their club ties and blazers and our visit there was marked by their wholehearted hospitality and friendliness. They were there in force today, generous in their praise of the improvements at Top Field, which was much appreciated. We did agree that the match was yet to attain classic status, and had it been a relegation decider, it would be Hitchin that needed to be the more positive.
As it turned out the hosts did play better, but too many passes were inaccurate or over-hit. Sports were just as guilty and one particular move that was flowing and suggestive petered out with a very poor final pass. Even so, there was no question of these players simply settling for a draw – their recent struggles would have erased that tactic. Hitchin had lost three on the bounce and a fourth – even if it had no significance in terms of relegation, would be seen as unacceptable.
There was a really decent shot from Kyle Tearle which cannoned off Taylor for a Hitchin corner. It was the ‘patent’ one and resulted in a lob from Hutchinson that Taylor held. A free-kick for Hitchin saw a cross from Brown that Taylor had monitored. Dugmore had a shot that needed Horlock to stretch to tip it over the bar for a corner, which was comfortably defended.
Gleeson came on for Brown, and then Dasilva had a shot that Taylor saved at the expense of a corner. Popoola met this with a shot that was defended and Dasilva won a further corner. This was much better from Hitchin and not before time. JCS sent in a high one and Taylor snatched it from its flight.
At the other end Jamie Molyneux had a shot and that brought a corner – a short one that did not work.
‘We want Webby’ sang a clutch of home fans, waving their inflatable canaries, but this was sensibly delayed. Georgiou again rose to head away a dangerous ball and a cross from Dasilva was defended by McGrath who needed to be exact. The game was heading towards a goal-less draw when hitchin pulled out something from the top drawer. There was a swift forward move and Stephen Cawley’s splendid pass was met on the run by Hutchinson who scored with delightful emphasis with a low shot. It was a typical goal from the Colchester United loaned who has played with commitment and zeal ever since his first outing where he scored a hat-trick away at Stourbridge. This goal was suitably celebrated and it was Hitchin’s first goal in three games.
It did serve to intensify proceedings and Tearle’s had another go and the ball struck the keeper’s legs. With a few minutes to go the inevitable substitution was made and Dan Webb came on for game number four hundred and it is nice to report that he did have two half chances to get his name on the score sheet for a Roy of the Rovers finale. Sports had not given up and forced a corner and a late shot. They nearly spoilt the party.
But as it was, Hitchin secured the points and rose to the dizzying height of sixteenth and the nervous season was over, with the club successfully staving off relegation that had always seemed possible. Of course, survival has been greeted with relief and in the full knowledge that I order to meet the challenge of next season, further improvements will be as welcome as they are necessary.
It did help that the game was not a decider for relegation as the pressure would have been enormous and we do not underestimate the efforts made by Bromsgrove to force a late equaliser, and we also accept that in the first half they had seemed likelier to score. But an improved second half showing by Hitchin and a well-taken goal made all the difference.
Of course the day was very much a celebration of a great club servant and loyal captain, Dan Webb, who, after the game took his farewell in front of those who have supported him and appreciated all he has done for a club that has been deep in his heart. Go well, stay well, Webby.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, Alex Brown, (Stephen Gleeson), Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Stan Georgiou, Jack Green, Josh Popoola, Rio Dasilva, Jacob Hutchinson, GOAL, 79 MINUTES, this reporter’s man of the match,(Robbie Burns),Stephen Cawley, (Dan Webb,)Malaki Black. All substitutes used.
BROMSGROVE SPORTING
Oliver Taylor, Josh Dugmore, Dominic Perkins, Toby Raison, Michael McGrath, Joel Kettle, Joseph Willis, Josh Quaynor, Matthew Barnes-Homer, (Mitchel Candlin), Jonathan Letford,(Jamie Molyneux), Jordan Goddard.
Unused substitute- Adam Marusiak, GK.
Referee- Mr. O Mackey, assisted by Mr A Agho and Mr D Vasile.
Attendance 777
REPORT BY PIPEMAN