Report
Today, a rainy trip to Staffordshire and Keys Park, probably the best stadium in the division, to play the Pitmen who have been something of an enigma this season. They were placed second from bottom and it seems inconceivable that they would meekly accept relegation. Hitchin, for their part have bruised their way through recent games, where an honourable draw has been greeted almost like a win, given the strength of the opposition.
Hitchin team news was simply that there was an unchanged starting eleven that had performed well in the Monday friendly against the Luton Town under 23 team. Stan Georgiou, Diego Gouveia and Steve Gleeson remain on the injury list. The further north we travelled the weather improved apace and indeed Keys Park was bathed in sunshine before the start and the pitch was in fine condition. Both weather and the pitch deteriorated erelong.
With the Pitmen fighting for survival in the Premier Division, full- blooded encounter was envisaged. Hitchin began well enough and had a free kick wide on the right, taken by JCS, which did not prove worth the wait. Fin Wilkinson brought some hope when he cut into the eighteen yard box and delivered a shot that needed to be saved. At the other end Hednesford had a free kick just outside the area and it brought just a mild shot from Augustien.
Hitchin then won their first corner and a wayward shot from Wilkinson received the usual derisory cheers. A fierce shot from Mc Quilkin failed to make the most of the opportunity but it was a bit of a warning to Hitchin.
A Hitchin free kick just in their own half saw Wilkinson cross the ball right in front of the goal but there was no-one there to accept the invitation. At the quarter of an hour mark there was a short rain shower and a fine save from Patterson by Horlock, who conceded the corner. Corners make me think of our game with Tamworth where they not so much as cornered the market but marketed an inordinate number of corners.
This coincided with a short , scrappy period that involved lots of shouting from players and bench staff. Neither defence was in a charitable mood. Idiakhoa came close to penetrating but Eadie’s intended shot was well blocked. However, at twenty- five minutes, creative ideas were short until, in receipt of a splendid pass, Jordan Graham put the Pitmen ahead. Ironically it was the first real shot on target. Hitchin had a free kick from the right, a shot from Lewis Barker, but the defence could not be penetrated. Wilkinson won a corner from one incursion, just as well, as he had run out of pitch. This brought a throw-in and heavier rain. Bell’s reasonable cross was cut out by Oliver Basey. Idiakhoa had a great run but no finish to speak of, and it was not that much compensation that Hitchin had been marginally the more enterprising team. In what turned out to be a furious move in the downpour, Ashley Hay’s effort struck the foot of the post. This was positive but needed to be sustained.
A corner for Hitchin, with three minutes of normal time left actually saw the ball in the Hednesford net but an infringement was spotted by the referee, naturally disputed by Hitchin, but not too earnestly. Two additional minutes were tacked on to allow an awful shot from Josh Allen. Idiakhoa had a decent run at the defence but there was not enough pitch left for him to make the move more magical and we went to the interval with the hosts’ lead intact.
The conceded goal was an aberration on the part of the Hitchin defence, leaving a man totally unmarked. It was necessary for the visitors to impose themselves with some authority in the second period.
A rainbow appeared, which was nice and possibly indicative of hope and reward, but it needed hard work. There were no substitutions as yet from either side. Hay essayed a shot that was routinely blocked and there was a degree of imprecision about Hitchin’s approach play. Allen’s neat move looked go but Hay could not capitalise. A free kick in a central area gave a bit of hope, but it was at some distance. JCS obligingly sent it in but it was too easy for Basey. Graham won a free kick for the Pitmen and I was surprised that Barker was booked for the challenge. Horlock held the free kick.
The pitch was now cutting up and looked heavy. Wilkinson tried a shot that was deflected for a corner, and again it favoured the defending team. Hitchin were preparing a substitute and it proved to be Jack Snelus for Josh Allen. Bell’s pass to Snelus saw a shot that for a moment I thought was successful but it was wide of the mark. Playing like this Hitchin did not deserve to be in arrears and it does underline how expensive a single mistake can be.
Hednesford had a free kick from the right that saw a header just clear the bar, with Horlock committed to an earlier save. It was a bit of a let off. Snelus tried another but it was off target. Another Hitchin substitution was imminent and off came JCS for Kavan Cotter, who was immediately involved in a fairly productive attack. A Hitchin corner followed but a goal kick was the result. A looping forward ball sent Wilkinson free but he was unable to control with his first touch and spilled the ball for a goal kick. Basey was there to prevent Hay from sneaking in with a chance,
Mistakes crept in; many attributed to the heaviness of the pitch – but not all. The hosts tried to ensure they were not just holding onto the lead, but their attacks were a little isolated. Eadie put in a fair cross from the left that was smothered by Basey and time was racing. There was a delay whilst Graham was treated for an injury and then more substitutes appeared. Hartley for the Pitmen and Cawley for Syme. Cawley’s assistance gave Hay a chance, which was blocked, as was Bell’s in the next attack. It was getting closer with time the enemy. The rain was as persistent. Hednesford utilised another substitute and Hitchin attacked in frustration, with Hednesford clearing wildly. Four minutes of stoppage time were added.
There was an off side following a Hitchin free kick and that was more or less it. Then, right at the end, following an error from the home defence Wilkinson somehow spurned a virtual open goal, putting the ball wide. It cost Hitchin a point many feel they entirely deserved. Well, it might have been a rush of blood but the chance was deemed unmissable.
Despite this, it must be mentioned that Fin had a game of honest endeavour and he will feel that late miss more than most of us. The result does help Hednesford with their relegation battle and adds yet another game to Hitchin’s winless run, which does cause some concern, since we are not that many points clear of the bottom four.
Stratford Town travel to Top field next Saturday, and they won again today. It will not be an easy run in for the Canaries, who will need a few points to guarantee safety.
HEDNESFORD
Oliver Basey, Lucas Yeomans, Stephan Morley, captain, Germaine Augustien, (Zac Hartley), Ethan Patterson, Harvey Portman, James McQuilkin, Todd Parker, Daniel Glover, (Ben Kaninda), Jordan Graham, GOAL, 26 MINUTES, Chay Tilt, (Stan Asomugha, cautioned.)
Substitutes not used- Jack Sang, Rhys Williams.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, (Stephen Cawley, 81), Jack Morrell, Lewis Barker, cautioned, Finley Wilkinson,this reporter’s man of the match,Josh Coldicott-Stevens, (Kavan Cotter, 68), Ashley Hay, Daniel Idiakhoa, Josh Allen, (Jack Snelus,59). Substitutes not used – Kye Tearle, Charles Miller.
Referee- Mr Thomas Swift, assisted by Mr Jordan Tindall and Mr Ryan Grandison.
Attendance- 352
REPORT BY PIPEMAN