Report
It was not ideal, an evening fixture on our second longest trip, but needs must, as the saying goes. We had been without a fixture on the preceding Saturday and our league position was altered accordingly by results in our absence, but happily restored at the conclusion of this game.
At the War memorial Athletic Ground, we faced Stourbridge whose recent run showed three wins in as many games, including a prestigious win in the FA Trophy over Kings Lynn Town, and now they face an exciting derby with Kidderminster Harriers, and we wish the Glassboys well in this. The cup run has meant that that they now have league games in hand.
Our last fixture had been at Telford, and the point gained was a worthwhile one, even if the game could not be billed as a classic, but rather, as Mark Burke said, a game of contrasting styles of football.
It was a cold night of typical drear November weather and another stern away test for the Canaries. The same team that played Telford started tonight and it was a bright start for the hosts with a low shot from a portly-looking Luke Benbow. Hitchin countered this with some enterprising forward play and some good pressing. Flint enabled Prosser a chance, but he launched the ball way too high. Flint then had a better shot of his own, which Horlock held comfortably.
From a home free kick was saw Horlock save any close range, and this was the best chance so far in a probing game. Benbow’s header was collected safely but Hitchin were now under a little bit of pressure. Next came a corner, was partially beaten`away until the tricky Flint afforded Benbow another chance and the shot was drilled in for Horlock to save again. We were overdue a decent chance at the other end, not permitted so far. Georgiou’s vital intervention in the next cross came at true expense of a knock.
Then Wilkinson hit one on the run, with Price needing to make his first save of the game. It got even better when Dan Idiakhoa put the Canaries ahead, and we whisper that it was against the general run of play, but opportunities are there to be taken and purpose promotes intent, a kind of pursuing an impulse. The goal came at about twenty minutes and the announcer assured us that Galliford was the marksman, with us politely begging to differ. This was later corrected.
Prosser won another corner for the Glassboys and they came close again. Syme made two defensive clearances as the pressure was sustained and we had played for just over half an hour.
Even so, Wilkinson, in capitalising on a defensive error should have added a second goal, but Price managed a touch to keep it out or a corner. Then Flint really ought to have equalised it for the one-armed reaction save of Horlock.
Syme conceded a corner, with Gleeson defending well. Benbow and Flint combined again, but conspired to fall over themselves and Wilkinson’s chance at the other end was foiled by Price. A free kick right in the middle of the park ended with Benbow’s effort striking the side-netting. Added to this there was some stern defending from Hitchin who had to face a free kick close to the corner flag. It was about five minutes to the interval and desirable that Hitchin could take this lead with them. A counterattack from the right saw Wilkinson unable to reach the cross.
This tentative lead was sustained, but we knew that we were in for a long second half with no `relief of the pressure, no doubt added to from the frustrated home supporters. But it had been a scrappy start with some uncompromising tackles and challenges. The outstanding Flint lobbed one that struck the upright and I was beginning to wonder if this might be a night where Hitchin’s luck would hold out for the rest of the game.
Then the visitors made an easy chance a laborious one and the chance was lost. Then a penalty was awarded, at about sixty-five minutes to the Glassboys, hotly disputed in vain by the Hitchin players and Benbow struck firmly but against the underside of the crossbar. Shambrook then tried one from range, inaccurately and in frustration. Steve Gleeson, the player adjudged to have conceded the penalty was still angry about it after the game. The referee, an MK Dons supporter, told me of a memory he had of Gleeson, as an MK player, score a wonder goal against AFC Wimbledon. His admiration for that did not colour his objective decision making in this instance.
Emovon replaced Eadie at this stage and Galliford was given the chance of a shot which he struck straight at Price. Horlock was cautioned for time-wasting over a free kick. Then a petty dispute briefly held up play which had become scrappy and almost vengeful at times. Cotter instigated a move that soon fizzled out and Emovon was needed for a timely intervention.
A home free kick sailed in from the right which Gleeson read well, setting up Bell, who simply run out of pitch, but he won a corner and out of nowhere it was Bell himself who volleyed Hitchin into a two-goal lead. It was a crisp and startling goal timed at seventy-seven minutes. This was an audacious addition to the hard-earned lead and occasioned two home substitutions in the form of Steward and Bood.
Freeman replaced Galliford for the closing minutes which would be as intense as the rest of the game, especially if the Glassboys managed to pull one back. Benbow appealed for a penalty, but he was the only one. Six additional minutes were added, which was unsurprising given Hitchin’s unsubtle gamesmanship, and also time would be added for the substitutions.
Another free kick for the Glassboys saw precise defending and a good counter move, where Wilkinson delicately tried to dink one over the keeper who pawed it out for a corner. After this was launched in and defended the referee blew for full-time and the points were Hitchin’s who move back to third place above Saturday’s opponents Leamington, in the first meeting since the play-off final of 2016/17.
Analysis of this game is relatively simple, Hitchin were under considerable pressure throughout, defended with precision, constructed countermoves when they could and snatched at the major opportunities. The hosts were creative and suffered misfortune of their own making. The pivotal moment was Benbow’s penalty miss. Had he converted successfully the match may well have ended in the Glassboys favour. Bell’s wonderful volley after the corner put the result more or less beyond doubt. I would also add that as I was leaving the stand, I heard no remarks about Hitchin being lucky, instead there was praise for their defending, their work rate and the manner of their win.
It was, as I have said, an audacious win and purpose was matched with intent.
Our Fulham supporting fixtures secretary informed us that with five more wins we would be safe from relegation, which is his way of looking at things, but he will readily admit that this current Hitchin team has put in some remarkable performances so far. We look forward to the Leamington game at Top Field.
STOURBRIDGE
Charles Price, Joel Shambrook, (AlfieSteward), Jack Wilson, Alex Prosser, Joel man Kettle, Jessy Bavanganga, Dexter Walters, (Brad Bood), Reece King, Luke Benbow, Jack Fletcher, Niall Flint, this reporter’s man of the match.
Substitutes not used- Charlie Dowd, Darryl Knights, Harvey Portman.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, cautioned, Bradley Bell, GOAL, 77 minutes, ( 2-0) cautioned, Layne Eadie, cautioned, (Dan Emovon), Toby Syme, Kye Tearle, Stan Georgiou, Kavan Cotter, Steve Gleeson, Dan Idiakhoa, GOAL, 22 minutes, (1-0), (Arnold Matshazi), Isaac Galliford, (John Freeman), Finley Wilkinson.
Substitutes not used- Jack Snelus and Diogo Freitas Gouveia.
Referee- Mr Harry Tarrant, assisted by Mr Kieron Rogers and Mr Deans Streatham.
Attendance 321
REPORT BY PIPEMAN