Report
After the ‘Valentine’s Day’ massacre at Coalville, Hitchin again faced another top team, and, as with Coalville, the corresponding meeting at the start of November ended in a draw. Hitchin performed well that night and looked to shake off any negative feelings after conceding five goals.
Charlie Horlock was suspended for this match, after his dismissal in the stern home draw against Stourbridge and he was due to be the guest commentator on Hitchin radio, but apparently they are not broadcasting today. His replacement today was seventeen year old Brian Okonkwo who part of the Arsenal youth set- up.
Our visitors were third in the table and are seen as keen favourites for promotion. it was interesting that one or two of their officials, who were at our match with Coalville, had the opinion that the final score there did not recognise Hitchin’s true endeavour, and they had a good deal of praise for Daniel Idiakhoa. Layne Eadie, Bradley Bell and Jack Snelus were back in the starting line.
Hitchin began attacking the Fishponds Road end and had a first foray along the left, soon snuffed out by Borough. Their own first attack was ended by an infringement. Borough then had a free kick in a central area, cleared by Jack Morrell. It was interesting that Borough supporters were already criticising the home keeper who was yet to touch the ball. Hitchin had a corner that was a little awkwardly defended. Bell’s cross from the left was easily dealt with. Eadie sent in a cross that was deflected for a Hitchin corner and that brought another at the other side. This was taken by captain of the day Josh Coldicott- Stevens and went for a goal kick.
However, a quarter of an hour had transpired without a clear goal scoring opportunity. Perhaps Bell’s free kick wide on the right could provide one. It did, and brought a header and also the off side flag. Another home free kick came to nothing. Interestingly, the experienced Tony Breeden took a free kick from his own half and it actually needed a careful save from Okonkwo, who conceded a corner. Twenty- five minutes in we saw a couple of thwarted Borough attacks. Idiakhoa ran in possession and had his shot blocked and the game was opening up just a little.
Breeden,’s free kicks continued to be accurate and needed careful monitoring. There were too many free kicks at this stage which prevented the game’s flow. One move where the referee signalled advantage saw Hitchin fail to capitalise and there seemed a preponderance of long passes.
Borough had a corner after thirty- three minutes which gave a chance to Rowe- Turner whose gentle lob cleared the bar. So, nothing to get excited about as yet. Bell won a free kick and a decent shot from Snelus saw Breeden down low to gather. That was the closest we had come to a goal for the hosts so far. A shot from Stenson drew a save but also the off side flag. Then there was a lob from Snelus with Breeden beaten but the ball bounced clear of the line. It was worth the effort. We were just five minutes from half time.
Barker impeded Richards which meant a free kick just outside the area, taken by Storer.it was a clear opportunity and it struck the three man defensive wall. It had been a gritty half and Nuneaton appeared to have scored, but the referee seemed immediately to confer with the assistant on the far side and the goal stood. He told me later that he did not consult his linesman but moved to dismiss the cluster of Hitchin players who claimed an off side. It came in the last minute of the half, was a little scrappy but they all count. It was so crowded that I – and the announcer had no idea who got the last touch. Someone said it was an own goal, others thought it came off a Hitchin defender. The goal was eventually credited to Kane Richards, but others claimed it was an own goal but do not ask me who was responsible.
It was ironic, I thought that at Coalville we had far more goal attempts in the first half and yet were three goals down. It was also bit disappointing to go behind to such a scrappy strike.
This poached goal was the only difference here in an undistinguished first forty- five minutes. We hoped for better things. No substitutions were made by either side as we resumed, with Osbourne neatly outwitting Wilkinson in Hitchin’s first move forward. To penetrate the visitors well organised defence would indeed take a bit of special play.
Hitchin pushed for the equaliser with some determination but without tangible success in increasingly elaborate efforts. Hay had a good move which was crowded out and Breeden disputed with the referee about time wasting. The visitors seemed content to hang on to the somewhat fortuitous lead at this stage. Then a cross, low and full of pace was met by Bradley Bell who carefully fired in the equaliser after sixty- two minutes. It was largely deserved since Hitchin had taken the initiative and the question was whether they could keep it or the Borough would come back at them.
Borough conceded an unnecessary corner and perhaps this was the chance.
No, like others it was over hit. Borough had a better chance from their next corner but the attempt at goal was well off target. Nuneaton then made a couple of substitutions and the referee got a little cross at a bit of routine gamesmanship from Jack Morrell. Player behaviour from both teams had been exemplary so far.
Chong replaced Richards for the final Borough substitution.Hay tried a shot on the turn that was cleanly blocked and we wondered if there would be any home substitutions. Bell fancied one from range and again Breeden went low to save routinely. Okonkwo made a similar save at the other end. He made. But if a mess of the next shot he had to face but Toby Syme was there to clear the danger, but it was a worrying moment.
Allen then replaced Wilkinson and Bell instigated another attack that saw the goal effort cleared close to the line. A Morrell free kick saw a more emphatic clearance. There was a roar of disapproval from away fans at not winning a corner and there were four additional minutes tacked on to this rather prosaic game. Syme again defended well to thwart further Borough progress.
Okwonka was impeded late in the game sparking full-throated protests but in my view the Borough player had every right to challenge for the ball, but Hitchin had the free kick and needed to get the ball up the other end, which they did Hay providing two late chances which Breeden dealt with competently.
The final whistle came after this and the 1-1 result, overall a fair one was the same as at Nuneaton in November .A point is a point and it was earned and against third in the table it was satisfactory. On Monday the visitors not Top Field where Hitchin will be hoping to achieve a league double over the Leicestershire side.
HITCHIN TOWN
Brian Okonkwo, Bradley Bell, GOAL, 62 minutes, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Jack Morrell, Lewis Barker, Finley Wilkinson, ( Josh Allen), Josh Coldicott- Stevens, captain, Ashley Hay, Daniel Ideakhoa, sponsors’ man of the match,
Jack Snelus. Substitutes not used – Stephen Cawley, Rio Dasilva, Stanley Georgiou, Ciaren Jones.
NUNEATON BOROUGH
Tony Breeden, Cameron Mc Williams, Kyle Storer, Tyrell Waite, cautioned, (Jayden Charles), Scott McManus, Charlie Dowd, ( Luke Benbow), Matthew Stenson, cautioned, Kane Richards, GOAL, 45 minutes, ( Kobe Chong), Prince Mancinelli, Lathaniel Rowe -Turner, Isaiah Osbourne. Substitutes not used- Joseph Magunda and Ryan Beswick.
Referee – Mr C Martland assisted by Ms N Bria and Mr L Botten.
Attendance – 558
REPORT BY PIPEMAN