Report
It seemed a long time since we have embarked on coach for an away game, and indeed it was August, before that run of successive home games. The last home game, against Coalville Town proved to be a real thriller with the Canaries seemingly down and out at half-time, yet they overcome a two goal deficit to win 4-3.
Bromsgrove Sporting, our opponents today, made an extra bit of news when they became the first club to take points from Mickleover, who had won eleven games in succession- remarkable feat by any standards. That game ended in a draw and it leaves us wondering when Mickleover will succumb to their first defeat.
So, despite the recent heavy rain, this game was on and much anticipated.
The Rouslers were in their usual red and white stripes and Hitchin in all purple.
A fine opening move for the hosts was off side, and the visitors were keen to compete and some early challenges inspired the referee to tender some advice to the home manager.
Conor Tee had the first shot of the game and it was a noteworthy strike needing a careful save from Horlock. This was followed by a fair effort from Ayomide Lekuti and the hosts were beginning to exert some pressure. A free kick wide on the left was beaten away so well it afforded a chance for Wilkinson at the other end. This was not too bad but Cotter’s ballooned free shot is best left forgotten.
A Hitchin corner followed to no avail and now the match was settling down to some nice end to end stuff. Tee had another go and Cooper missed a good chance close to goal and the next flurry was adjudged offside. Matshazi tried a little bit of artistry that failed to dazzle Snelus tried something similar but was just intercepted. The Rouslers’ manager , Mike McGrath still seemed dissatisfied about something or other and in the next Hitchin attack Snelus came very close to scoring.
The dull, overcast weather gave way to some sunshine as this combative game continued to intrigue. King- Harmes, a lurking winger sent in a low cross that was defended and an elaborate move resulted in Lekuti heading over the bar.
So, after half an hour there was little to choose between the sides.
A corner for the Rouslers actually gave Eadie a chance of a shot, once this corner was turned into a counter move but the effort was sliced. A fine attack along the left saw Tee combine with Cooper, who opened the scoring with a deft flick after thirty- five minutes, following the cross. Hitchin responded with an effort on goal that brought a corner but Ciaren Jones’ header was too high.
Then a defensive error from Hitchin presented Tee with a golden chance to make it 2-0 with a free shot but he must have had a rush of blood to the head as he missed by some dramatic distance. Half chances followed for Hitchin and then a creditable attempt to lob a straying Horlock which might have worked.
An equaliser this half would have been very welcome for Hitchin who had played reasonably well without reward and Taylor held a high effort on his goal Little time needed to be added to this half that had been played without serious interruption.
The consensus was that the game had been close and we were a little nonplussed at the Hitchin players’ protests concerning the Bromsgrove goal.
King- Harmes, in possession, did all the hard work but followed with a shot of negligible worth. There were no substitutions during the interval. Matshazi was beginning to hold the ball up well and a bit of individual skill from Idiakhoa, I decided, would not be amiss. Eadie went down injured and a Hitchin attack was broken down but the counter attack from Bromsgrove was offside.
Syme replaced Eadie and Gleeson came on for Matshazi. Tearle’s fine cross beckoned for a touch that it did not get. Then the same player clipped a pass that won a free kick for handball and a good one was needed as chances like this had been rare. However, Taylor rose imperiously and that was that.
A well constructed Hitchin move ended with a shot that was almost a back pass and Rouslers brought on Micro Pais for Lekuti. Hitchin pressed in passing moves and Bell had a reasonable shot which seemed to cause the home manager to switch the subject of his wrath to the assistant. A caution for the manager seemed an inevitable conclusion. He went into the book along with four of the home side over the duration of the game. Two were in quick succession and it did show how Hitchin were making inroads with their attacking intent.
But Hitchin still trailed and needed more direct effort on goal. Cotter’s fine assistance saw Wilkinson have a go and there followed two corners and just a half chance for Idiakhoa. Then Temi Akinbusoye replaced Bradley Bell. Then the next Hitchin attack was foiled. But they were pressing Idiakhoa was bundled over and the offender cautioned. Some intricate passing marked the next foray but defending from the hosts was solid. There followed a magnificent save from Horlock when King- Harmes looked certain to score following a fine move.
It occurred to me that the team had played well enough for a point but time was eluding them for the needed equaliser. Wilkinson, on the run saw a shot blocked. The ebullient Tearle switched to the right and was influential in play.
It needed The Moment, or failing that a little bit of good fortune. There was a free kick from the right and a bit of a flurry in the box that favoured Bromsgrove. Akinbusoye won a late free kick on the edge of the area and that looked like the last real chance. Cotter sent it in and in a crowded area it was the poacher Wilkinson whose low shot brought the equaliser after eighty- seven minutes. It was the reward for persistence, and it also showed the importance of Akinbusoye’s winning the free kick.
Then Hitchin had a late corner where they outdid themselves for guile. Another booking followed for the home side and a free kick for Hitchin saw Taylor make a fingertip save. Six minutes were added as Hitchin continued on the offensive with another corner. Idiakhoa missed his cue, but the hosts were struggling for possession now.
A late chance for Akinbusoye was no only just foiled and a late effort from the hosts gallantly cleared the cross bar. But there was a sting in the tail when a dash along the left saw a high cross and a second goal for the hosts in stoppage time. So, substitute Elliott Ball became the hero with what proved to be the late and dramatic winner.
It was a bitter blow since Hitchin had responded so positively. Two more corners and a crowded box with the referee sorting out the usual push and shove prelude. Charlie Horlock left his goal untenanted to add his presence to the last effort.
It was not enough and that late goal proved to be the winner- so well done to Sporting even if I maintain the view that the Canaries deserved a point. It is never over until it is over, of course. Last week we exulted over a late winner and this week it was our turn to feel the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune. That is football, that is life.
It is possible that Hitchin could have played the last few minutes in a cautious manner in order to preserve a point but they had the momentum and it could not be ruled out that they might even snatch a win. There could have been a little vulnerability at the back, but the winning attack was blessed with pace.
The quality of the goal was notable, and it was timed at ninety plus six, just to make it all the more heartbreaking. The sense of being robbed was not entirely psychological and conceding that late strike left us with a shaper edge to our disappointment.
BROMSGROVE SPORTING
Oliver Taylor, Aksum White, cautioned, Ben O’Hanlon, cautioned, Jack Newell, Aaron Roberts, David Solademi, cautioned, Callum King-Harmes, Luke Rowe, Keane Cooper, GOAL, 1-0, 32 MINUTES, Conor Tee, Ayomide Lekuti. Substitutes used – Miro Pais and Elliott Ball, GOAL 90+6 2-1.
Substitutes not used- Kane Auld, Tui Sanches, Tristan Dunkley.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Bradley Bell, (Temi Akinbusoye, Layne Eadie, (Toby Syme), Stan Georgiou, Ciaren Jones, Kye Tearle, this reporter’s Hitchin star man, Arnold Matshazi, (Stephen Gleeson), Kavan Cotter, Dan Idiakhoa, Jack Snelus, Finley Wilkinson. Substitutes not used- John Freeman and Chris Khoo.
Referee- Mr J Alsopp, assisted by Mr H Organ and Mr N Charles.
Attendance 579
REPORT BY PIPEMAN