Report
Hitchin manager Mark Burke, writing in the club bulletin, was very cautious about this encounter in Huntingdonshire, reminding us that St Ives were in good form and what defeats they had recently suffered were against the top clubs and they had lost by just a single goal.
With Hitchin also in fair form we had the prospect of a fine match, after the gruelling derby against an unyielding Bedford Town. Team news was encouraging, well more or less, as Jack Morrell was included but Ciaren Jones was injured. Josh Coldicott-Stevens replaced Steve Gleeson who was also on the injury list. Having recovered from injury was Steve Cawley who was on the substitutes’ bench.
After Hitchin kicked off we saw an immediate chance for Bradley Bell whose effort only just cleared the cross bar. St Ives responded with a long throw from Johnny Herd that needed precise defending. Jonny Edwards shot was on target but not as accurate as he hoped. It was a warning for Hitchin. Then some good preparatory play from the visitors enabled a low cross from Bell that was dealt with efficiently.
Ashley Hay’s looping shot from the left hit the crossbar and the following cross was defended. Freitas- Gouveia had was held back by the shirt,earning a caution for Paddy Casey. It was a fair start for Hitchin who won a free kick at about twenty- five yards but this sailed harmlessly out of play. A well worked attack from Saints saw Horlock hold the shot from Myles Cowling.
Saints had a corner which saw them appealing to the referee that the ball had sneaked over the goal line. Then, another corner was sent in and this time the ball did cross the line, the goal credited to Ben Toseland and is another example of Hitchin struggling with set pieces. The goal was timed at eighteen minutes.
This was followed by a short period of home pressure, relieved by good interceptions and the off side flag. Then Jack Snelus received the yellow card for simulation, an unconvincing dive in the box. Freitas – Gouveia, after an artistic piece of play crossed the ball to Snelus who hit the ball firmly but over the bar. The move itself seemed to deserve an equaliser. This was a good attacking spell for Hitchin who needed the ball to fall more opportunely. A long throw from Herd marked the half hour point and a cross from Enoch Andoh went begging. There was a shot from range from Jack Morrell that drew a good save from Jamie Dadge and then a sublime header from Ashley Hay put the Canaries level. The goal came after thirty-three minutes. Play had been tenacious prior to this and was at a fast pace on the splendid artificial surface.
Then there was a breakaway goal with Andoh getting ahead of the defence and rounding Horlock to restore the home lead. Hitchin had remained on level terms for just two minutes. St Ives then had a free kick wide on the left, with Michael Richens testing Horlock. There was an off the ball incident that resulted in a caution for Kellan Hickinson. The Hitchin free kick saw an off target header from Lewis Barker.
Toseland was booked for Impeding Freitas- Gouveia and Hitchin had a free kick wide on the right, which was subsequently wasted. With a couple of minutes to go to the interval it seemed unlikely that Hitchin would equalise. There was one attempt but Snelus could only manage a meek shot. So the hosts went in ahead without playing superior football, but they had taken their chances well and defended with some precision. There was a discernible frailty at times that suggested there would be more goals in this game.
Wilkinson replaced Snelus for the second half and he was involved in a snap attack that saw Idiakhoa’s shot nullified by a block. The onus was on Hitchin to attack. An unintentionally comic moment came when two Hitchin players attempted to head an inviting cross and simply cancelled each other out. The hosts won another corner that saw a reasonable but inaccurate header from Callum Milne. Idiakhoa was blocked again and another attack faded.
Eadie began another but Freitas- Gouveia was outwitted. Nevertheless Hitchin were playing positively in their quest for an equaliser. A St Ives corner saw an infringement and back came the visitors with a shot, just wide from Freitas- Gouveia. The home keeper was booked for time wasting and from a fair move Saints had another corner.
At the other end a move started by Morrell saw Layne Eadie provided with a golden chance at close range which he somehow conspired to miss. He will never have an easier chance. The Canaries bought to have been level and then pushing to win, the referee unwittingly aiding them by reversing a free kick decision. The free kick saw a chance for Wilkinson but Dadge was there to eliminate the opportunity. And oh wasted a good chance for the hosts and then Eadie was replaced by Dasilva, whose pace could well make a difference. Time though, was of the essence. Dasilva had a good run but his final pass was intercepted. Dasilva then won a corner to keep up the pressure. This was far too deep, but Hitchin got the ball into the box but Idiakhoa and Dasilva were denied progress. St Ives were doing their best to slow the game down but they were having a little trouble in maintaining possession.
From a Herd throw Toseland missed a chance almost as golden as Eadie’s.
A Richens free kick was held by Horlock. Josh Allen, a loan player from Luton came on for his debut but time was ticking as the Saints held their line. Dasilva tried another run but was again relieved of the ball. Bell had his pockets picked in a similar manoeuvre.
A little more cohesion in attack was needed. A free kick , centrally at about thirty yards fell to Hitchin and it was a real peach from Freitas- Gouveia who was delighted to supply the equaliser which was indeed the goal of the game, as it thundered into the bottom left corner. Now, could Hitchin be audacious and go on to win this, having had the bulk of the play in the second half? They certainly had the initiative. But we had just two minutes to go plus stoppage time.
St Ives won a late corner and, yes a goal was conceded from a header, scored by Michael Richens. It was a bitter blow for Hitchin who again let in a goal almost immediately after equalising. Yet again we were reminded of that vulnerability to set pieces. From that goal the hosts cleverly kept possession.
There was a late free kick that was defended and then came the final whistle ending an entertaining game, but Hitchin will be disappointed at going away empty handed when they felt they had done enough to justify the draw they probably deserved.
Home supporters were understandably elated and they deserve praise for the noisy vocal support they provided, including a wobbly rendition of “The Wonder of You”. If only Eadie had steadied himself with his chance and Snelus had put his first half chance into the net instead of over the bar.
Next Saturday sees the Canaries at Top Field hoping to be avenged against Stourbridge.
ST IVES TOWN
James Dadge, cautioned, Paddy Casey, cautioned, Johnny Herd, Michael Richens, captain, GOAL, 89 ,cautioned, Callum Milne, Ben Toseland, GOAL,16 minutes, cautioned, Enoch Andoh, GOAL,35 minutes, cautioned, (Ed Hottor), Myles Cowling, Jonny Edwards, Kellan Hickinson, cautioned,( Kieran Higgs), Tyrone Baker, ( Greg Kaziboni). Substitutes not used- Charlie Johnson and Ethan Johnston.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, Layne Eadie, (Rio Dasilva), Toby Syme, Jack Morrell, Lewis Barker, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, GOAL, 86, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, (Josh Allen), Ashley Hay, GOAL, 33 minutes, Daniel Idiakhoa, cautioned, Jack Snelus, cautioned, (Finley Wilkinson). Substitutes not used- Stan Georgiou’s and Steve Cawley.
Referee- Mr A Wilson, assisted by Mr R Taylor and Mr J Birch.
Attendance 297
REPORT BY PIPEMAN