Report
The first goal scored at Top field so far this season proved to be worth three points, but Hitchin, in defeating Needham Market for the first time in a league game were blessed with some good fortune, and honesty compels me to report that the stylish visitors were worth at least a point in a game they dominated, especially in the second half.
For Hitchin supporters, it may well be a source of consolation for the defeat on Saturday, a game rendered all too difficult after the harsh dismissal of Lewis Barker. The team was, by choice or necessity, a little altered with starts for Delsin Ackom and Bradley Bell, and Leon Chambers-Parillon named as one of the substitutes, who eventually made his debut.
Gritty defending has become a hallmark of the current Hitchin team and they needed both character and precision to thwart the consistently enterprising play of the eager visitors who began sprightly running, impressing with their honest endeavour. Right at the start, a flowing attack needed to be put behind for a corner by Stan Georgiou. From this Kieran Morphew headed loftily over the crossbar.
Hitchin responded, but their initial attacks lacked poise with some over optimistic passes. The Marketmen were more penetrative but they could not promote half chances to the ultimate finish. Then, with only seven minutes played, came the solitary goal of the game, and it owes much to Needham’s goalkeeper committing an error that presented a golden chance. His intended clearance from a goal kick was underestimated and the ball fell opportunely to Finley Wilkinson who made the most of this unintended gift and this bit of poaching proved to be of immense value. He had bypassed two players on route to his much applauded finish.
So, after two goal-less sorties at home we finally saw a goal and happily it was for Hitchin – and it led to the first home win of the season, in front of the best attendance so far, as well. As if shrugging off the goal, the Marketmen set about restoring parity with some flowing football, spreading the play well and causing a good deal of consternation in the Hitchin penalty area.
During the course of the game they had more corners than Hampton Court maze and showed some degree of repertoire with these. In fact the one they almost scored from they dub internally as ‘The Horlock corner’, which is a lot
like what we call our ‘patent corner’, which was not in evidence today. A fine, low shot from Ross Crane was on target and needed a careful save. A Hitchin corner from Gleeson saw Josh Coldicott-Stevens eventually put in a second cross that was cleared. At the other end the Hitchin defence was kept frantically busy in one of those melees that could end in glory or despair, but it was the home defence that emerged unscathed, but their work was far from done, yet, importantly it was done and the clean sheet was welcome.
Patrick Brothers was, for some reason, a trifle agitated after his team had been awarded a free kick wide on the left. When the steam had stopped emerging from his ears, the free kick was taken and Crane’s shot was straight into Horlock’s arms. Maybe that was the Horlock free-kick, but it was somewhat wasteful as we were rapidly approaching the interval and Needham had comparatively little to show for their creditable efforts so far.
Brothers, his equilibrium presumably restored, cast doubts on this by sending another effort way over the bar.
Jacob Lay’s shot was blocked and another effort ricocheted off one of Horlock’s legs and the sequence of Market corners continued unabated.The half ended with yet another shot from the visitors being way too high.
I suspect that many of us thanked providence for that early goal, as it had to be conceded that the visitors had been the better team and had looked likely to score. Perhaps if they had they might have gone on to win, and there was a sense of their growing frustration in the second half where Hitchin held on with a mix of skill, good fortune and a smattering of gamesmanship.
But the onus was on the visitors to score, and despite their persistence they just could not do this, and will no doubt have returned to Suffolk with the explanatory phrase, ‘we wuz robbed’. We have all seen this before and will do so again a good few times. Robbed maybe, but full credit goes to the beleaguered Hitchin defence that held firm.
This second half was not marked by Hitchin’s attacking verve or enterprise, and it must be conceded that there was only one shot on goal from them and it came as late as the eighty-seventh minute, and was struck wide by Kye Tearle, who was very nearly presented with a slice of luck in another chance but his heavy touch was enough for the Marcus Garnham to eliminate the chance.
There were shots on target from Market, and Horlock was equal to them all, but in particular, our custodian and skipper distinguished himself with a notable save from the aforementioned ‘Horlock corner’. This was was as well-worked as it is, presumably, on the training ground, with a cunning step over to cause a bit of confusion and then Kyle Hammond narrowed his eyes, sent in a low, accurate drive and Horlock made the save of the game.
This was not the end of the pressure from the visitors and I was not entirely alone in thinking that an equaliser was highly probable. Forward moves for Hitchin diminished into longish clearances that ate seconds, and in an off the ball incident, the referee, who had a generally good, even handed game, seemed to underline this by issuing cautions to both Gleeson and Noah Collard. Patch Brothers was the only other booking in a game that was generally free of bad feeling.
A spirited run from opposition star man Ross Crane looked the business until he was just foiled before he could inflict real damage. Toby Syme, who was again the man of the match, and has been so for, what is it, four games in a row? Well he made more than one important intervention, but credit is due to the entire defence who refused to be weakened under pressure and had a collective will to play for maximum points.
At no time could we say that they were ‘just hanging on’ since Needham had forced the issue, and as I say, they were unfortunate not to have left Top Field with a point. They are a fine side and for me have played the most attractive football of the three teams in our home matches so far. Having said that I would also add that there is a more determined character being exhibited by the current Hitchin side who have gained, early as it is, a top six position, which augurs well for forthcoming games.
Needham Market face rivals Leiston in the FA Cup on Saturday, whilst we take on Heybridge Swifts at home. I will end with a relieved reference that Hitchin have played three home games and kept a clean sheet each time, which is not to be sniffed at. I also hope that old wounds are not opened but it was one hell of an improved result over the corresponding fixture last season when our visitors returned to Suffolk following a 6-1 win.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, mentioned in despatches, Delsin Ackom, Callum Kane, Toby Syme, sponsors’ man of the match, Stanley Georgiou, Malaki
Black, Lewis Barker, Stephen Gleeson, cautioned, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Bradley Bell, (Kye Tearle, 65), Finley Wilkinson, GOAL, 6 MINUTES. (Leon Chambers-Parillon, 86). Substitutes not used- Johnny Allotey, Rio Dasilva, Alfie Warman.
NEEDHAM MARKET
Marcus Garnham, Kyle Hammond, Jake Dye, Christian Frimpong, Kieran Morphew, captain, Daniel Morphew, Jacob Lay, Patrick Brothers, cautioned, (Seth Chambers, 75), Ryan Viggars, Jamie McGrath, Ross Crane.
Substitute Noah Collard received a caution but I apologise that my notes do not reveal which player he replaced. Substitutes not used- Evan Collard, Hugh Cullum and Taylor Clark.
Referee- Mr J Crofts, assisted by Mr D England and Mr C Mills.
Attendance 529
REPORT BY PIPEMAN
