Report
Today was today for Hitchin to recover from the home defeat against Leiston and they achieved it in a disciplined and workmanlike manner. They had to come from a goal behind and kept at their task with admirable tenacity.
Mention must be made of the sumptuous pre-match meal which Hitchin officials considered to be the best they have ever received, and we record our gratitude and appreciation.
Playing on what many consider to be the best artificial pitch in the league, we had to wait to gain admission as there was a game involving a Cambridge United youth team.
Before the game there was a tribute to a former St Ives stalwart, Dave Bull, and following the eulogy, there was a minute’s applause from the 389 in attendance.
Galliford’s early cross saw a header from Gleeson, or was it Eadie, but it was close and brought a corner. This was a positive start from Hitchin, who, like many clubs are nursing a string of injuries to key players.
This was the time to reassert themselves. Tearle’s free kick was high and hopeful and thus comprehensively cleared. It took the hosts a full ten minutes before they put any threat on the Hitchin goal and a free kick was entirely wasted. An acrobatic effort at a shot was put into shadow by a foul off the ball and back came Hitchin, with a lackadaisical shot from Tearle.
A good move on the left saw Galliford and Tearle combine but it was thwarted. Further chances came, necessitating good home defending, with the chance of a counter move, one of which came for the Saints and earned a free kick close to the corner flag. This produced a header and a corner This was messed up and at the other end Galliford had time for a shot that as easily held by Eddie Brearey.
Michael Richens had a bit of a run and then a shot which Horlock went down low to save. So, another corner and set piece nerves. Gleeson’s sliced clearance almost produced a free own goal, but the ball slid to safety. Twenty-five fairly even minutes had passed.
Another home free kick was sent harmlessly into touch and then, Hitchin, starting a move bagged a free kick themselves, this resulted in a shot from Freeman that was just wide. There was a Hitchin corner just after, which was cleared and resulted in an ineffective home move.
The floodlights were clearly needed but, I do believe it is the referee’s prerogative to decide. There was a home chance from the scorner, but the diagonal pass flashed across the goal into touch. With about ten minute to go, Edwards and Njoku combined but to little effect. Then the hosts on a free kick when Njoku was fouled, and this was in a central position two yards outside the area. Richens hit it well clear of the bar.
I heard spectators making jokes about the absence of the floodlights, but we were just five minutes away from the interval. A goal would have lit up the game. Saying that, there was an ironical cheer when the lights did come on. In stoppage time there was a home free kick which again was more or less wasted.
The interval came soon after and I had made a note that Hitchin had marginally more realistic chances, but it had not been a compelling half, but no doubt of tactical interest.
The resumption saw an immediate chance for Mensah, followed by a poor corner. Matshazi was hauled down for a Hitchin free kick. Gleeson sent it straight into touch. Njoku should have done better with his chance. Horlock, going to the edge of his box to clear, did so but under the accusation of handling. The referee dismissed this unreasonable appeal.
Hitchin won a corner, which brought Syme downward header, and when this was cleared Richens was able to have another go on goal. With Matshazi fouled there was a Hitchin free kick in an inviting area, centrally. Tearle’s shot was blocked. Gleeson sent in another which favoured the home defence.
St Ives had a free kick wide on the right, inevitably taken by Richens, and it was not his best. Tearle’s through ball won a free kick, which was hotly disputed.
The shot from Galliford was saved.
Horlock again cleared from the edge of his area and home fans were making all kinds of demands, but Horlock was blameless, his clearance being entirely legitimate. This was confirmed by a consultation with the linesman. It was claimed that Horlock had handled, but I can assure you he did not, on both occasions. Home supporters, of course, demanded his immediate dismissal.
The there was a rather bizarre goal, an own goal netted haplessly by Stan Georgiou. This was a blow, no doubt but within five minutes the Canaries were level. A decent free kick from the right saw Galliford send the ball in and it was scrambled into the net for an equaliser by Matshazi. It was just as well as Hitchin did not deserve to be behind in this game.The goalkeeper bravely denied Matshazi in the next Hitchin attack.
Home fans berated the referee for every decision which went against the hosts, which is not unheard of. They were far from pleased when Matshazi put the visitors ahead with the best goal of the game, after eighty minutes and all the goals had been scored by Hitchin as well. Wilkinson was making a difference since he had come on. The Njoku missed a sitter and there were only minutes to go. Even so there were a number of substitutions made by both teams.
There was a meaningful late attack from St Ives, artfully foiled and there was no sign or sound of the final whistle. But it did come eventually, and it was a welcome away win for the Canaries who deserved it. The hosts had huffed and puffed, created some meaningful chances but were ineffective at finishing with accurate emphasis.
After Stan Georgiou’s unfortunate own goal, the team might have taken on a crestfallen aspect, but they rallied and Matshazi did the damage. Sitting among many home supporters I heard many a criticism of today’s referee, who was not nearly as bad as they declared.
The blame, if that is the right word, was the hosts ponderous play, poor free kicks and the ineffective finishing. As such, Hitchin deserve the points and the win keeps them in fourth place.
It was a notable performance, given the number of injuries to key players, and, needless to say, a vast improvement on the last outing.
ST IVES TOWN
Eddie Brearey, Ben Mensah, (George Joyce), Luke Harris, (Ed Hottor), Michael Richens, captain, home star man, Jordan Williams, Paddy Casey, Dan Barton, Myles Cowling, Jonny Edwards, Brandon Njoku, Sam Tessler, (Chris Oti).
All three substitutes used.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Dan Emovon, Stan Georgiou, OWN GOAL, 70 MINUTES, (0-1), Arnold Matshazi, TWO GOALS, 75 AND 80 MINUTES, (1-1), (1-2), Man of the Match, Stephen Gleeson, Jack Snelus, (Finley Wilkinson), Isaac Galliford, John Freeman, (Joel Jolly).
Substitutes not used- Bradley Bell, Dempsey Thomas and Dan Idiakhoa.
Referee- Mr H Lavender, assisted by Mr A Leadbitter and Mr B O’Sullivan.
Attendance 389
REPORT BY PIPEMAN