Hitchin Town 2 Alvechurch 1

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Southern League 2022-23

Top Field68 Fishponds Rd, Hitchin SG5 1NU, UK

Hitchin Town
Alvechurch
2 - 1
Final Score

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Hitchin greeted FA Cup heroes Alvechurch by scoring an audacious opening goal in the very first minute, and went on to gain a prestigious 2-1 victory, with all the goals coming in the first half. The Church gained much praise for their excellent win over Cheltenham and now face a winnable game in the next round at Forest Green Rovers. This game will be televised, which will add much to the coffers of Alvechurch whose new ground is now more or less assured.

What can be said most distinctly is that in this game Alvechurch did nothing to perpetuate the myth that a team soon to play a big cup game will have players who will take it a little easy for fear of injury. They pushed Hitchin hard the whole game and will be a little put out that they did not get the point they feel they deserved.

Hitchin were without the suspended Stephen Gleeson, the injured Finley Wilkinson and, sadly, it was the last loan game for Ciaren Jones who has been recalled by Brackley Town. The game was preceded by the usual minute’s silence to remember the fallen, and as usual, was respectfully observed.

It was a welcome starter when Steve Cawley was granted a free- header that he sent past Daniel Jezeph for the quickest goal scored by Hitchin this season, and it was Cawley’s second goal in successive games, having opened the score at Ilkeston Town last week. But, as it has turned out, this early lead is often a mixed blessing – and it certainly served to galvanise the visitors who seemed somewhat indignant at such an early concession. Quite puzzling was a very early caution for Lewis Barker, and it turned out to be of some significance.

Alvechurch went at it, but this expected response was dealt with positively, with Hitchin aware that it would be ludicrous to shut up shop so early, and they matched their opponents in forward moves, with Diogo Freitas-Gouveia winning a corner, and then Cawley won another after a cross from Toby Syme saw the striker’s header deflected for a corner. This presented Ashley Hay with an opportunity, but he headed straight at Jezeph.

The Church came straight back with a fine run from Concannon who’s cross won a corner, which Bell headed behind and then, from this the equaliser

looked certain, but skipper Jamie Willets headed against the crossbar, and it served as a severe warning to Hitchin. But even thought there was vigour and invention shown by Alvechurch, Hitchin were still able to get forward and Diogo won another corner, beaten away to Dasilva whose return ball was too heavy. Abbey and Waldron constructed a good move that was neatly thwarted, but to my mind, Hitchin were giving away too many free-kicks. Skeen-Hamilton was scheming, and it needed a neat intervention from Jones to stop his progress and a fine cross from Dasilva to Cawley saw the latter just fail to hold the ball up. Across from Bell found just the side netting but Hitchin were meeting the challenges so far.

More free-kicks were conceded by Hitchin and the gloomy thought was that one of these would count and sure enough it did. We had played twenty-one minutes and Abbey’s nonchalant free kick went in off the post, with the scorer strolling back as if it was merely routine. Since Hitchin have found it difficult to sustain the lead we were not entirely surprised – this has happened at Nuneaton and Ilkeston – but today the eventual result was shaped by Hitchin’s character and determination.

Syme’s up and under held our interest until it was punched clear by Jezeph and then a cunning pass fromWaldron set up Abbey whose shot was decent and needed a good save from Horlock. Snelus joined Barker in the book after a latte challenge, and as is the custom there were some barbed comments from home supporters concerning the referee’s performance.

For a few minutes hitchin were finding it hard to cope with Alvechurch whose football was enterprising, but it was the Canaries who scored next, with Diogo Freitas-Gouveia a scoring on the turn and twisting his foot in the process. There was a throw-in from the right and a neat pass saw Diogo take his opportunity well and had us all wondering when we last scored two goals at home in a league match. That goal came in the thirty-seventh minute and indeed it was a lead that the Canaries took to the interval. A Diogo free-kick beforehand begged connection but did not receive it and when Concannon found himself free on goal, an equaliser looked probable, but Horlock was there to make a fine save. Hitchin finished the half strongly with Snelus winning a latte corner and Bell having a fair shot on goal.

It had been an entertaining half and no-one really predicted that there would be no further goals. It was not for lack of effort for both teams. No goals then, but an exciting half, with The Church expected to go all out for an equaliser. After some tantalising work from the agile Skeen-Hamilton, there was a chance for Steve Cawley to go for a brace, following some assistance from Snelus but he stumbled at the vital moment and the chance was lost.

There was excellent work from Ben Cassidy, a most able wing back, with one swift move winning a corner. Concannon had a shot blocked and Cassidy put another effort wide.

Hitchin were continuously aware of the quality of their opposition, but met it full on, unlike at Ilkeston where they appeared to shut up shop early only to leave the door on the latch. Not today. From one home corner we saw Dasilva fire one in that Jezeph needed to punch clear. The counterattack saw Alvechurch come really close to scoring, but the defending from Hitchin was admirable. Then Hay shot on the turn which almost took Jezeph by surprise, unlike Cawley’s cheeky lob from range which was always going wide.

Then in a magnificent move involving Hay, Bell and Cawley, the last named managed a deft flick that needed monitoring. This was good stuff from Hitchin, playing a bit of a high line but providing realistic chances on goal – and defending in depth when required. They were matching The Church for persistence. Abbey had a bad miss following a rebound, when Horlock pushed the ball unwittingly towards him, having saved the first effort.

Cassidy was still a problem and soon substitutions were made by both teams. Edge had a shot blocked, Horlock saved from a Williams effort and not for the last time. Diogo’s cross was deflected for a corner, and from a long throw Willets headed wide. It was exciting stuff. Sub Leo Brown headed over, Dasilva put in a meek shot and with minutes to go Lewis Barker received a second caution and was dismissed. Many thought this harsh, but it means another suspension for Lewis, who, to my mind ought not to have received the first caution, which really only needed an stern reprimand.

The resulting free kick for Alvechurch was deflected for yet another corner and Williams’ header was held by Horlock, whose heroics were needed in these last nervous minutes. The referee generously added a full seven minutes of stoppage time and of course to home supporters it seemed to last the full fifteen, but despite the creditable efforts from Alvechurch to salvage a point, Hitchin held on to win all three, which of course is very welcome.

I think that the ending of the game typified this new Hitchin approach. The free kick that hit the defensive wall saw Hay have a chance at the other end, and we also owe much to Horlock’s expertise in goal.

Some agreed with me afterwards that this victory was due to the indomitable character of Hitchin who were up against it at times from a fine opponent – a team that has already been a source of pride for the Southern League with their exploits in the FA Cup.

I will say once again that there was no question of them taking it easy, they went at it and, as I have implied, they may well feel that their play deserved a draw.

And so it goes on……Monday sees the visit of yet more FA Cup heroes, the conquerors of Notts County, and a team one Alvechurch supporter claims to be the best in the league. Tamworth will surely disagree. Yes, we have Coalville, riding high in the league and bent on promotion. Hitchin will need to be fully focused to get something from this, but after today, there is some confidence and we hope they can play as they did today, with resolution and the notion that attack and counterattack may be the best form of defence.

HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, (Kye Tearle, cautioned), Toby Syme, Stan Georgiou, Lewis Barker, dismissed after receiving two cautions, Ciaren Jones, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, GOAL, 37 MINUTES, (Josh Coldicott-Stevens), Rio Dasilva, Ashley Hay, Stephen Cawley, GOAL, 1 MINUTE, Sponsors’ man of the match, (Callum Kane), Jack Snelus, cautioned. Substitutes not used- Malaki Black, Delsin Ackom.

ALVECHURCH
Daniel Jezeph, Ben Cassidy, opposition star man, Bradley Burton, Aurio Neto Teixeira, (Emmanuel Olaloko), Jamie Willets, Harry Williams, Jediael Abbey, GOAL, 21 MINUTES, Thomas Edge, Daniel Waldron, (Leon Brown), Jack Concannon, Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton. Substitutes not used- Ellis Jones, James Behan, Jack Hallahan.

Referee- Mr N Oakes, assisted by Mr A Francis I and Mr M Bright.

Attendance 478

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Competition Season
Southern League 2022-23