Report
With Leamington returning to the Southern league, there was an obvious stirring of memories concerning the play—off in 2016/7 and on that occasion the Warwickshire club were successful. It was a close-run thing and of course, someone had to lose.
Today we owe much to the Hitchin ground staff who were able to make the pitch playable, and we were one of the few grass pitches that passed inspection. The artificial pitches come into their own in this weather, as they should.
So, it was third versus fourth and the potential of a fine game. Hitchin retained their third spot with a notable away win at Stourbridge on Tuesday and did it with disciplined defending and the snaffling up of opportunities.
With this being a featured game in the Non-League paper, it was hoped that it would live up to that billing. It did, but for Hitchin not until a second half resurgence in a bid to save the game.
As expected, the visitors began confidently with Shorrock having a fair early chance. The early minutes saw Hitchin pressed back to their own half, and a header from a corner harmlessly sailing over the bar. Shorrock had time for another shot saved well by an already busy Horlock.
Meredith’s cross, not his first, was too heavy, but all the warnings were there, with Hitchin denied any time on the ball. Home play was tentative, which was not exactly new. From one timorous move came a quick counter that yielded a corner and a wild, inaccurate shot. Then came a positive move with Idiakhoa seeing his intended shot deflected for a corner. This was beaten away and actually needed Horlock to race off his line to see off the danger as the ball reached the other end.
Quaynor’s free kick caused concern and Leamington pressed hard, with some action in the box. Then, almost inevitably the visitors scored, with Callum Stewart slotting home through the crowd of players hustling in the Hitchin penalty box. We had been playing nineteen minutes and had been clearly second best.
Hitchin needed to respond and indeed Eadie’s perfect cross, soon after the goal just needed a nod from Idiakhoa, but he failed to connect. Galliford had a shot from range that did not trouble Hawkins. There was an enforced break when Idiakhoa went down injured and so there was time for Mark Burke to issue some meaningful instructions. One foiled Hitchin attack saw Wilkinson pull up lame and we espied the substitutions’ board flash up. So off went our potential scorer Wilkinson, and on came Arnold Matshazi with some degree of responsibility put on his shoulders. Galliford’s careful cross saw Eadie set up for a shot, which was blocked and then Gallliford’s effort went wide.
There seemed no getting past the tall defenders of Leamington, but now the Canaries were trying or the unlikely prospect of an equaliser before half time that was now only minutes away. Bell’s inviting cross was snatched by Hawkins, up there was an improvement in possession.
Landers made an impressive run, and his firm shot was saved by Horlock, and the resulting corner yielded a free kick for Hitchin, after Landers was treated for a knock. Leamington were awarded a late free kick in a central area and Horlock held it comfortably. As the half time whistle went, I thought that Hitchin were a little bit fortunate to be trailing by just one goal but was glad of the fact since the hosts have a pleasing tendency to improve their game in the second half.
Upon resumption we were intrigued as to how the game would pan out since there were signs of Hitchin clawing their way back to test the impressive Leamington defence. Leamington supporters had decorated the uncovered end with some sixteen flags and added some sporadic chanting. A run from the troublesome Meredith resulted in a ballooned shot, but this player had been inventive and persistent.
Cotter was replaced by Emovon and Hitchin saw another forward move foiled too easily, and then a mistake gave Shorrock a chance, but he only could the side netting. The Brakes were not relinquishing control, forcing Hitchin to play square and then be pressed back.
Then there was what appeared to be a simple cross from the right from Ewan Williams, but this went into the goal off the post, when it appeared to be going out of play. It was slightly fortuitous, but we cannot say it was undeserved. The goal came at sixty-first minute and made Hitchin’s task a good deal more onerous. They tried to build from the back only to find themselves resolutely challenged for possession and progress was abruptly halted.
With a lot of the second period gone, we were yet to see a direct effort on goal. Then, with a great move from Tearle, culminating in a cunning pass there was a subtle low shot from Bell to find the bottom right corner and it was 2-1 and that goal brought hope. There was bit of fight about the hosts, urged on by the Fishponds Road end, huddled against the bitter cold. The goal was timed at sixty-seven minutes, and with the initiative, an equaliser was indeed feasible.
Freeman replaced Georgiou and he was immediately active as if instructed to secure that equaliser. There was evidence of good ideas, but some of the passing was too wayward. But the intent was there, and the play Just needed to match it, with more direct manoeuvres.
Tearle had been outstanding and Galliford’s header was straight at Hawkins. Bell won a free kick, that was dealt with effectively and we saw Shorrock try an overhead which was well wide. There were moments of discomfort for Leamington in their own penalty area, but they were dealt with.
Time was of the essence and an elaborate Hitchin attack saw Hawkins punch clear. Hitchin won a corner and then another, so be assured the lads were giving it their all, with Tearle the playmaker. A set piece would have been welcomed as we entered the additional five minutes. Tearle won a corner and we hoped.
Gleeson kept it going but that stalwart Brakes defence took it all. There was another corner for Hitchin, and we noticed Horlock out of his goal and maintaining a position of a false number nine, or something like that. He sensibly returned to his proper area. I assure all that his attempt at being a striker was temporary.
Leamington sought to frustrate with possession football, which they achieved adequately but they were patently hanging on for the points, having had their superiority wrested from them.
How curious it was to see the visitors lording it over their hosts in the first half to being the team under the cosh for much of the second. But they got the goals that counted, and they marked their long absence from Top Field with a win.
It is in order to praise the late effort from Hitchin, where team spirit and desire were both there, but the gleam of good fortune eventually favoured the Brakes.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, GOAL, 67 minutes, (2-1), Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, KyeTearle, this reporter’s Hitchin man of the match, Stan Georgiou, (John Freeman),Kav Cotter, (Dan Emovon), Stephen Gleeson, Sponsors’ man of the match, Dan Idiakhoa, Isaac Galliford, Finley Wilkinson, (Arnold Matshazi).
Not used – Josh Mollison and Jack Snelus.
LEAMINGTON
Callum Hawkins, Daniel Meredith, this reporter’s overall man of the match, Josh Quaynor, Joseph Clarke, captain, (Adam Walker), Theo Streete, Jack Lane, Henry Landers, Ewan Williams, GOAL, (2-0),61 minutes, Callum Stewart, GOAL, (1-0), 19 minutes, (Tyrone Barnett), Jack Edwards, William Shorrock, (Jiah Medrano. Not used, Dan Moore and Dan Baldwin.
Referee- Mr James Hall, assisted by Mr Ben Compton and Mr Philip Evans.
Attendance 551
REPORT BY PIPEMAN