Report
There was no hiding our apprehension in relation to the challenging task concerning today’s game. The Glassboys shattered our ambitions in the corresponding fixture with a comfortable win and their latest result was an outstanding 3-0 victory at league leaders Tamworth. They have not lost an away match since November, which is another daunting statistic. Hitchin’s last result was a last gasp 2-3 defeat at St Ives, where they were just a couple of minutes away from a deserved point.
Hitchin were still without Stephen Gleeson and Ciaren Jones who are still on the injury list. The weather was overcast but dry and another good attendance of 539 settled in for what we hoped would be a good game bringing a positive result for the Canaries. I hoped there would be no shocks since I noticed the description of our visitors kit was ‘electric blue’.
Hitchin began the game kicking towards the open terraced end. There was an opening shot for the visitors and Charlie Horlock needed to parry and the ball was cleared. Then a Hay header enabled Bradley Bell to have a shot, that was held by Charlie Price, clad in not so electric maroon. He made a bit of a pig’s ear with a clearance and Hitchin had their first corner that brought a mild, off target shot from Jack Snelus.
A diagonal shot from Reece King was straight to the gloves of Horlock. A cross from Darryl Knights brought a corner for the Glassboys, defended well enough to give Diego Freitas Gouveia a half chance at the other end. There was a free kick wide on the left for the visitors that caused mayhem and was awkwardly cleared. Following an uncontested dropped ball there was a mild shot from Jason Cawley but this opening quarter of an hour was absent of real goal chances. At this stage Stourbridge were probing with serious intent but Freitas Gouveia broke from midfield and shot wide on the run.
There was some inelegant play in midfield where judgement needed to be more precise. This did not apply to Tyler Lyttle who was not short of vision and ideas. Cowley tried one from range that proved over ambitious. It must have caused some exertion from Charlie Horlock who needed treatment and this was a cue for an impromptu drinks break. The half hour mark saw neither team wresting the initiative and mistakes were not uncommon.
Hitchin had a free kick wide on the right, put in by Gouveia but it caused no problems. Cowley suddenly found himself clear of the defence and Horlock was deemed to handball outside the area and was subsequently cautioned along with a Glassboy who held the opinion that the card should be red in colour for Horlock. But the visitors had a free kick in an optimum position and we had played thirty- seven minutes. The defensive wall was set and many thought that Obinna Anaebonum had scored but his reward was just a corner that drew an errant shot on goal, but only just, as he hit the post and Horlock got a hand to it to conceded the corner. It was a piece of good fortune from an incident we could have well done without.
Hitchin countered with an unsuccessful attack and here I can concede that one of our stewards admitted to me that Horlock’s offence did merit a red card. You will get the referee’s view at the end of this report. Apparently the Glassboys’ protests resulted in two yellow cards for dissent. Three minutes to half time saw another home attack fizzle out and then there was a free kick just inside the attacking half. Freitas Gouveia sent it forward and Snelus’ intended shot was blocked. The referee added two minutes for stoppages. This brought an unsavoury incident which seemed to revolve around a response to a challenge from Daniel Idiakhoa and the referee consulted his assistant and Idiakhoa received a caution as did Reece King, for dissent.
At half time I discussed the Horlock incident with the referee’s wife, a qualified coach, which is something I do not write often, but she was of the opinion that a yellow card was the correct decision. I looked forward to hearing the referee’s account after the game. It certainly sparked a debate with Stourbridge officials making fair and objective comments. One was quoting direct from the Rules.
The floodlights were on for the second period and we hoped to see some illuminating play from a rather subdued Hitchin. Cowley was indeed unfortunate when his screamer of a shot hit the cross bar and Hitchin were riding their luck. The next few minutes were decidedly scrappy with neither side enjoying good moves in possession. Bell made the most of an error to have a go from range but it cleared the bar.Good defending put paid to the next Stourbridge raid and Anaebonam had a blocked shot.
Then a superlative run in possession from Idiakhoa on the right saw his pass fall neatly for Jack Snelus who finished emphatically and a little against the run of play Hitchin went ahead in the sixty- third minute. I had no doubt that this goal would enliven proceedings. An inviting cross saw Reece Styche head over the bar and a free kick from the right gave Joel Kettle a chance close in but he was effectively denied and from the corner another effort went harmlessly wide. A looping, apparently aimless forward ball saw Price misjudge but Ashley Hay was unable to maximise the error. That would have been a bit embarrassing for the visiting keeper.
Another Glassboys free kick came in from the right but Reece King’s header proved wayward. As they pushed forward there were signs of some vulnerability in the Stourbridge defence and then with Cowley apparently fouled in the box, a penalty was awarded and as well as that Horlock received his second yellow, under protest of course, and Hitchin were down to ten men with Lewis Barker donning the gloves. It was hard to argue with the penalty decision. This was taken by Lyttle and it gave gave Barker no chance.
Horlock, who many thought should have been dismissed earlier, unwittingly granted their wishes. So 1-1 with a long time to go.
We had played seventy- three minutes and clearly Hitchin were up against it. Jack Morrell cleared from a dangerous move and it was clear that the Glassboys would be going for the win. Stan Georgiou had replaced Bradley Bell in the interim. It was time for one of those occasions when the ten men perform better than the eleven, and we hoped that at least a point could be salvaged.
Stourbridge replaced Knights with Walters, who was immediately involved with his low cross robustly headed away. Hitchin employed Wilkinson for Freitas Gouveia. We had at least a quarter of an hour of normal time left. Hitchin dug in and tried to get the ball into the attacking half. A free kick was greeted almost like a goal. There was one, fairly central, which struck the defensive wall but Hitchin kept possession and their nerves. Georgiou did well to deny an encroaching Walters.it seemed to me that possession was nine tenths of a point but the away pressure was exacting and a huge cheer went up when Barker prevented what looked like a certain goal.
Supporters were at their encouraging best and there was a fright when it seemed the defence would be overwhelmed but the off side flag was raised. We had played forty- three of this and expected a good bit added on. Stourbridge made a late substitution as five extra minutes was announced. Anywhere will do and we had a strange moment when Cowley, who angrily kicked the ball away was shown a red card and the referee immediately changed it to yellow. All this was almost too much and we were hoping for the final whistle and a point. Stourbridge attacked and Hitchin defended, with an audacious forward move In between. The Canaries held out, gained a point against a fine team who quite probably were expected to win. Indeed Stourbridge supporters ended their participation by severely criticising the referee, who had an eventful afternoon. He was pleased to explain his major decisions and in his view he did not send Horlock off in the first half incident as ‘it was not a definite goal-scoring opportunity’.
When Horlock was eventually sent off the referee confirmed that of the three possible offences it was Horlock’s that was deemed as definite and thus he was dismissed. It should bring just a single match ban.
So, after a relatively indifferent first half we had our fair share of drama and of course there were a number of interpretations of what happened depending on what team team you favoured. I feel that a draw was about right.
Tuesday sees the team travel to Coalville Town, which will no doubt be as testing as today, probably more.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, dismissed after two cautions, Bradley Bell, (Stan Georgiou), Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Jack Morrell, sponsors’ man of the match, Lewis Barker, cautioned, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, (Finley Wilkinson), Joshua Coldicott- Stevens, Ashley Hay, Daniel Idiakhoa, cautioned, Jack Snelus, GOAL, 63 MINUTES. Substitutes not used- Rio Dasilva, Joshua Allen and Stephen Cawley.
STOURBRIDGE
Charles Price, Tyler Little, PENALTY GOAL, 73 MINUTES, opposition star man, Jack Wilson, (Jaiden White), Alex Prosser, cautioned, Joel Kettle, Joseph Hull, Darryl Knights, (Dexter Walters), Reece King, cautioned, Jason Cowley, cautioned, Reece Styche, Obinna Anaebonam. Substitutes not used- Demico Burton, Finley Holmes and Alex Worley.
REFEREE- Mr C Poole assisted by Mr C Tan and Mr K Mayhew.
Attendance 539
REPORT BY PIPEMAN