Report
I cannot help but think of the last meeting of these two clubs, which was at Garden Walk last November. There was a decent crowd, despite the inclement weather and it comes under the category of ‘should have done better’ from a Hitchin point of view. The Canaries had taken a deserved first half lead and were in control. The Crows stormed back not just to equalise but to gain an impressive 4-2 win and the most memorable goal was the second one scored by Diogo Freitas Gouveia.
That was then, and now both clubs head towards the end of the season respectably placed, with a similar history of head to head results. After the disappointing result at Redditch last week, Hitchin were all the more eager to put in a decent performance, if just to be mathematically safe.
Royston were playing in their changed strip of all aquamarine and Hitchin were kicking towards the open terraced end. The first bit of meaningful action came with a poor home corner and then a bit of a mix up between Eadie and Wilkinson. Hitchin conceded a corner from a Royston long throw. Jones and Barker combined to defend this well and it led to a mild attacking move for the Canaries.
There was a good open aspect about the game , but Jones, in an unforced error permitted Bateman a low shot that went wide but it would have been a little embarrassing had he maximised the effort. It represented the sole goal chance in the opening twelve minutes. A follow up move from the Crows looked even better but was put out for a corner. Hoddle won a free kick on the right for the Crows, and yes, like Ronnie Henry, he has a relative who gained fame playing for Tottenham Hotspur.
Hitchin needed a break from this bit of pressure but were not allowed any time on the ball. Indeed we have to thank Toby Syme for his goal line clearance that prevented the visitors taking the lead, which looked certain until that timely intervention. Horlock had palmed away the first effort. A home free kick did nothing to gain a bit of much needed possession and, Eadie, finding himself possessed of a loose ball, fired inaccurately from range.
Wilkinson, in attempting to control a long forward pass, was fouled and Murray was cautioned. The free kick was low and ricocheted out of play for a goal kick. The Royston goalie came off his line somewhat enthusiastically to attempt a clearance, which was not successful but there was no opportunity for anyone to lob into an unguarded net. Idiakhoa had a fair run, but his intended pass to Bell went astray and then Jones received treatment for a knock. Players had a drinks break and at this stage I was thinking how much the Canaries needed to grasp the nettle in a game that had not offered them much so far. Even when it did, a minute later, Wilkinson launched the ball way over the bar when he did have time for greater accuracy.The same applied to Royston’s Barnwell at the other end.
There were, oddly, unforced errors committed by both teams as we headed towards the interval, with no-one gaining any advantage. If anything, Royston had seen their early dominance fade slowly. Gouveia sent in a negligible free-kick and a cross from Dasilva, brother of our former player, Rio ( a spectator today). The set piece did not raise the temperature. It all had an unsatisfactory stop/start nature about it. Two minutes were added just as Hitchin were awarded a late free-kick that went out harmlessly for a goal kick. I must say that it came as a bit of a relief when the whistle went and we could only hope that the second period night inject a bit of local derby intensity about it, particularly as we had another high attendance. In fact it was 834, the highest home turn out of the season, just pipping the Bedford total.
Upon resumption we had a bit of hope with an early free kick but this sailed nonchalantly out of play. Better was Idiakhoa’s attempt from range, low and only just wide. Kyriatzis came off his line to prevent progress from Snelus, whose opportunities had been few. Then Hitchin almost scored, hitting the frame of the goal twice, with Gouveia blasting the first and the second coming from Coldicott-Stevens. That would have enlivened proceedings no end. At least Hitchin were looking to sustain the initiative. Barnwell had a lucky break when he was able to shake off his marker, close to the goal, but his square pass was defended well by Jones.
Royston then made two substitutes, just before Wilkinson took a tumble on a run, looking optimistically for a penalty he knew was out of the question. A couple of dangerous Royston attacks were beaten away in contrasting fashion. Wilkinson was gamely battling away up front without shouting the odds, but he needed support. Gouveia shaped up for a free kick with a world weary air and the Crows keeper held a meek header. Gouveia tried again from range but judged it poorly. The visitors won a corner, dealt with by Jones, but Gouveia fired to capitalise on Kyriatzis’ hesitancy in front of his goal, and then Hitchin were awarded a free-kick centrally just outside the area. Was this the moment? No – it hit the aquamarine defensive wall and there was no following chance. Bell’s shot was not too bad but still off target. There was a caution for Royston’s Dasilva with the Hitchin free-kick coming to nothing. Hitchin then made their first substitution with Tearle replacing Bell. Barker was needed to defend a looping cross, conceding the corner, which was defended and no-one was surprised to see Harness adjudged off-side and he thumped the ball into the net for entertainment purposes. But a goal was what this game badly needed.
Snelus was hauled down in dramatic fashion, and Gouveia’s free-kick brought no joy. Harness had a decent run and shot but nowhere near the intended target. A Royston cross room substitute Newman looked the business but there was no-one at home, so to speak. Even so, Royston were looking quite purposeful, yet a little outdone by some unnecessary fancy footwork on the edge of the penalty box.
There remained just a couple of minutes of normal time when a shot following a corner saw the visiting keeper make a creditable save from would undoubtedly have been the match winner. Snelus tried a late run but had his pockets picked. Brighton’s late long throw was cleared overhead style by Eadie and then Gouveia delayed too long for his shot that allowed the keeper to anticipate the placement. There was still time for a Hitchin corner and oh joy this was a squeezed in header from already declared man of the match Toby Syme. Celebrations were fulsome and mixed with relief. Wilkinson’s final shot was saved but the match was won.
Such a dramatic conclusion is always beneficial to the successful side and it did leave the embattled Royston team somewhat crestfallen since they had worked so hard and indeed had created decent chances. After the match I spoke to my former pupil and Royston player Ron Henry who told me that Hitchin deserved to win. It could not have occurred much later and it seems fitting that Toby Syme should be the match winner since it was his intervention that had prevented a more or less certain goal for the Crows.
This late win and the welcome three points has significance elsewhere since, as Kings Langley lost today they need to beat Hitchin on Monday as they are desperate for points to stave off relegation. So, that will not be an end of the season kick about but is a game of some importance. It is another Hertfordshire derby and I need hardly add that our forthcoming opponents have secured some very favourable results in our clashes, none being better than their Boxing Day win here at Top Field in front of an attendance just a few short of numbers today.
To play in such a match with a good deal at stake for the hosts ought to make for an exciting encounter and one that we look forward to. But for now we may reflect on the late, dramatic win and it does make amends for losing our way in the corresponding fixture at Garden Walk.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, (Kye Tearle), Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, GOAL, 90 minutes, Sponsors’ Man of the Match, Ciaren Jones, Lewis Barker,
Diogo Freitas Gouveia, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Jack Snelus, Dan Idiakhoa, Finley Wilkinson. Substitutes not used- Josh Allen, Ashley Hay, Stephen Gleeson and Kav Cotter.
ROYSTON TOWN
Dimitrios Kyriatzis, Cole Dasilva, cautioned, James Brighton, Edward Asafu-Adjaye, (Kian Harness), Adam Murray, cautioned, Ronnie Henry, Charlie Castle, (Thomas Newman), George Hoddle, Matthew Bateman, Alfie Williams, Shomari Barnwell, (Kyjuon-Jaeger Marsh-Brown). Substitutes not used- Isa Rotimiand Fernando Bell-Toxtle.
REFEREE: Mr L Scott, assisted by Mr H Price and Mr R Fullicks – all of whom had good games.
ATTENDANCE: 834
REPORT BY PIPEMAN