Report
This was the third meeting between the two clubs this season and honours may be said to be even, with Redditch eliminating Hitchin from the FA Trophy at Top Field but losing to the Canaries in the League Match at the same venue.
There were a number of changes from the somewhat damp visit to Cheshunt for the Hertfordshire Senior Cup Final, with starts today for Kye Tearle, Josh Allen and Kav Cotter. Steve Gleeson and Diogo Gouveia, now fit, were among the substitutes. This league game followed the narrow 1-0 win over Stratford Town.
The recent inclement weather obviously had no effect on the 3G pitch and there were news of postponements elsewhere. The first meaningful action was a fair cross from the Redditch left which won a corner which was a
Most predictably headed beyond Horlock to give the hosts the lead. The scorer was Jack Byrne and it was a neat finish.. We had played just four minutes. The response was a Hitchin corner which was beaten away resolutely. Yes, we had reflected on the set piece nightmare.
Reece Flanagan instigated a move that brought another corner for the home side and a reasonable attempt at increasing the lead, and it brought another corner and a dismissed appeal for a free kick. In almost a quarter of an hour Hitchin were yet to have a sniff at goal and it seemed that the early concession of a goal had unsettled them.
A long clearance by home keeper Harrison gave O’ Sullivan a chance with Horlock equal to it. The resulting corner needed Horlock to smother the ball at the second attempt. Hitchin attempted forward moves were forced back and there seemed, as yet no established rhythm to their play. This brought some shaky moments in defence as well, with even a back pass causing momentary alarm. A goal for those in purple would have been the best tonic.
Gregson’s cross from the right saw O’ Sullivan head at goal, but straight at Horlock. Breaking into the Redditch half was problematic. Eadie did set up one realistic chance for Allen that was cleared close to the line and we had waited long enough for this chance, hoping it would not be isolated. A great move from Idiakhoa resulted in a Hitchin corner, palmed away by Harrison. Things were improving to some degree.
Hay’s attempt at a shot was blocked and Coldicott- Stevens, not a prolific scorer, almost got his name on the score sheet with a fine strike that Harrison needed to tip over the bar. Another corner followed and I was momentarily distracted by a home female supporter who, seeing me tapping away at my iPad, asked me if I were making notes on how the team could improve. Possibly, was my answer. What followed on the pitch was an apparent caution for Josh Bickerstaffe, who had obviously said something untoward to the referee.
O’ Sullivan then had a shot that Horlock could only push into the path of Lewis Hudson who had a simple task of side-footing the ball into the net to double the home advantage. We had played thirty- six minutes. A JCS free kick was defended and Allen had a super chance to get a goal back but a defender cleared for a corner which Jones headed over the bar.
There were just five minutes to go to the interval and still too many square or defensive passes from Hitchin. Another shot came from JCS which was rather wild and wide. There were further attempts but these seem to result in a sweeping clearance to a well placed Redditch player. The hope of a compensatory goal before the interval quickly dissipated.
There were the usual permutations during the interval if Hitchin were yet safe given current scores, but of course it was all speculative. We resumed with a bit of hit and hope football and the onus was on The visitors to make a game of it which was not proving to be easy. O’ Sullivan, in receipt of a fine pass almost made it three but Horlock made a noteworthy save. Allen tried to connect with Hay but the move was far too transparent. Redditch stormed back and won a corner, just to give us the jitters, I suspect. Coldicott- Stevens, having a fine game eased the ball out of danger.
There were signs of an impending Hitchin substitution and it was Gouveia for Allen. This was before a Hitchin corner that gave Toby Syme a half chance and another corner that provided little. Gouveia, having been out for some time was soon in with the action. Flanagan had a shot from relatively close range that brought a one- handed save from the busy Horlock. Syme’s next robust bit of defending almost risked a penalty and Gouveia nearly poached a goal from a defensive error of judgement but the luck was with Harrison.
Wilkinson was manhandled just outside the area and Gouveia shaped up for the free kick on the hour mark. A corner was the outcome. Then Hay tried to get the ball into the net with a kind of compromised body shape. He was on target but it gave a routine save. It had been Hitchin’s best attempts so far. Another Hitchin corner came and an overhead effort from Wilkinson was stylish but inaccurate. Hay was replaced by Snelus as Hitchin continued to exert what pressure they could. The hosts, however, defended patiently. Gouveia had a go and hit the side netting following Eadie’s attempt from range. A composed Redditch attack saw a shot clear the bar, but Horlock had got a finger to it and in came the corner, followed swiftly by another. This was a little alarming as Horlock spilled the ball but his defence covered.
Redditch made a substitution and Hitchin battled to get forward but it did seem that the pressure exerted was now diminishing rapidly. Indeed Redditch seemed to increase their own efforts. Cotter won a corner and Gouveia delivered, and a second corner was the result but again there was simply no penetration. Time was almost up now and there was only a passing interest in a Redditch player attempting to throttle an angry JCS, but the referee controlled the incident well.
Then, with a minute of normal time to go hope sprang briefly when Snelus pulled a goal back. Given the effort in the game this was largely deserved.
Men were pushed forward in the hope of snatching a point and there were three additional minutes. Eadie had a free kick that was almost sent straight back to him. Subtle time wasting was of course detected. Hitchin tried to buy a penalty but time had drained and that was that. It might just have happened and there were those who felt Hitchin had created enough to force a draw. I feel it was that early goal that was the killer – that propensity to allow a free header after just four minutes, and from the dreaded set piece.
Mention must be made of yet another sterling performance from Charlie Horlock and there was a claim from some that the late penalty appeal should have been granted. Elsewhere results went our way so to speak, but a point or two in remaining games would be welcome.
Had Hitchin played as well in the first half, it might have been different but at least they gave it a good go even if creativity was suppressed at crucial times in the match. Redditch applied a fair game management and saw the game out for the points.
Next week Hitchin take on Hertfordshire neighbours Royston Town.
REDDITCH UNITED
Adam Harrison, Harry Reilly, Lewis Hudson, GOAL, 36 minutes, Jack Byrne, captain,GOAL, 4 minutes, Ioan Richards, Ryan Wollacott, Reece Flanagan, Riley O’Sullivan, Danny King, Harvey Gregson, home man of the match, Max Sheaf, ( Martin Riley). Substitutes not used – Scott Cashmore, GK, Bernard Mensah Jnr, Adam Hanson, Henry Smith.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Ciaren Jones, Kav Cotter, Finley Wilkinson, Joshua Coldicott- Stevens, Hitchin man of the match, Ashley Hay, ( Jack Snelus, GOAL, 89 minutes), Daniel Idiakhoa, Joshua Allen, (Diogo Freitas- Gouveia).Substitutes not used – Bradley Bell, Lewis Barker and Stephen Gleeson.
Referee- Mr A Cox, assisted by Mr D Lasksa and Mr H Hudson.
Attendance 343
REPORT BY PIPEMAN