Report
This report is dedicated to Geoff Thomason, who died recently. He was part of Steve Barker’s elite group of volunteers who look after the pitch at Top Field and do such a splendid job. Geoff will be missed, and his passing was marked by a respectful minute’s silence before the kickoff. The ground staff were present on the pitch, which was a nice touch.
Our visitors arrived, having suffered a recent dip in form. At the beginning of the season, they attracted much notice for the enviable feat of winning twelve games in succession and they are still unbeaten at home. They were league leaders for a long period but that has been wrested from them by Needham Market, so three defeats away from home has proved expensive and the most recent was a 4-0 reverse at Stamford.
Hitchin, of course, needed to improve their home form and with the visitors keen to stop their recent reverses, it meant an intriguing game was in prospect.
There was a startling opening when Arnold Matshazi, two goal hero at St Ives, had an immediate chance and a rush of blood to the head as he put the effort well wide.
A promising attack led to a loss of possession and indeed Mickleover took the lead, on the counter, with a looping ball and a fine finish from Leon Clarke. Charlie Horlock was injured, and play was held up for what seemed extensive treatment. We noticed that we had no reserve goalkeeper on the bench. To give away a goal after just three minutes was indeed rather careless, but at least our goalkeeper and skipper was able to continue.
The uncovered end was quite full, but the the atmosphere was somnolent. Hitchin had a promising attack when Galliford sent in an inviting cross for Wilkinson, who was in the optimum position but unable to connect.
The attack continued vehemently, and an equaliser went in off the post and an opposing player, later identified as Rhys Dolan, who must be responsible for the goal Eadie’s cross into the box that did the damage, and the home announcer declared him the scorer. This equalising goal was also helped by some hesitant defending.
For the next few minutes, we had some adventurous end to end play, with Hitchin electing to play out from the back, causing just a few jitters. Eadie was outstanding in both defence and attack. Marcus Barnes, trying to make the most of a defensive mix-up by Hitchin, fired wide. Ben Sault tried to weave his way through, but he was prevented- but the visitors were showing good pace in attack so far.
Snelus’ pass to Eadie won a corner, but home players were optimistically claiming a penalty, quietly dismissed. The referee halted proceedings and called Eadie and Bell for a conference on, I presume, the players’ comments. He confirmed this afterwards.
Eadie, Snelus combined and a fine shot from Matshazi saw Bosworth save with his foot at the expense of a corner. The move deserved a goal, but the keeper was alert. Mickleover cheekily netted one effort even though the whistle had already been blown for an infringement. The half hour mark had been reached and it was an even encounter.
Bell was cautioned and he gave away a free kick that Horlock held. Eadie and Wilkinson combined, but the visiting defence held firm and produced a fair countermove that was caught offside. There was a long delay for an injury and again the referee was deep in conversation with mostly Hitchin players. Toby Syme was the player injured and he had to wait to be signalled back on.
Bell sent in a cross to Eadie who simply could not get any power into his intended lob. There was an appreciable slice of time added on to the somewhat scrappy end to the half.
The opening action of the second half saw an elaborate move by the visitors culminating in a wildly inaccurate a shot from Marcus Barnes, which was then replicated at the other end. An on target shot from William Atkinson was held comfortably by Horlock, who appeared to have a plaster or a bit of bandage on the right side of his head. Some said it was a thick application of petroleum jelly.
Top Field was surrounded by pastel colours and a rising moon. Just thought I would throw that in, as it might detract from the ease at which the visitors regained the lead. Ben Sault seized upon a loose ball in midfield, and then turned and run in possession, without serious challenge. He unleashed a perfect shot that found the top right corner and his celebration was refreshingly modest or such a good goal. It came after fifty-three minutes.
Oliver Greaves might well have added a third but for Horlock’s fortuitously extended leg. More was needed from Hitchin and Galliford was replaced by Cotter. A Hitchin attack on the left soon lost its way. A free kick from Bell preceded another substitution with Tearle giving way to Idiakhoa. This had no immediate impact on improved play, until an absolute belter of an equaliser from Eadie.This followed a tremendous piece of work from Emovon. There was no doubt about this emphatic goal, and it came from our most inspirational player in this match. I really wish he could be credited with the first equaliser.
This led to some Hitchin pressure, and a corner from Cotter favoured the defending team. Bell’s cross was academic as the ball had crept out of play, but the idea was right. We wanted a home win; we needed a home win. Time was ticking against us and defenders were strong against intended forward moves.
Then there was a long delay to tend to the injuries sustained by the visiting keeper. Another home attack was foiled and after a clearance, goalkeeper Bosworth went down in what may be called a strategic injury since no player was near him when pain overcame him. It was confirmed that the unfortunate keeper has suffered a quad injury. Minutes remained and passing could have been better from both sides.
Georgiou was forced to concede a corner from a dangerous attack and Horlock tidied up. Then the visitors gained a free kick in a central position. It hit Cotter in the wall. Clarke’s header at the start of stoppage time could have won it and so could Bell’s shot at the other end. Six additional minutes had been announced.
Both teams were going for it with admirable enthusiasm. A free kick from Mickleover went harmlessly behind. Emovon set up a fair move but there was an infringement, and that chance went. A deflection meant a corner for Mickleover, but it was remarkably poor and led to a Hitchin counter move.
Beavon came on for Clarke for the dying minutes and so very soon the match ended in what really was an honourable draw.
It ought to have been a draw in August at Mickleover where Hitchin had come from 2-0 down to 2-1 and pressed the home side who were indeed glad of the final whistle. They are a good battling side, and they stay second in the table behind leaders Needham Market who won away today. Hitchin fall to sixth and hope they can keep up their good away firm when they contest “El Hertico” at Royston on Boxing Day.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Bradley Bell, cautioned, Layne Eadie, GOAL, 68; minutes, This reporter’s Man of The Match, Toby Syme, Dan Emovon, Stan Georgiou, Arnold Matshazi, sponsors’ choice as star man, Kye Tearle, (Dan Idiakhoa,cautioned), Jack Snelus, Isaac Galliford, (Kavan Cotter), Finley Wilkinson.
Substitutes not used – John Freeman, Joel Jolly and Ryan Sellers.
MICKLEOVER
Oliver Bosworth, Matthew Bowman, Rhys Dolan, OWN GOAL, 12 minutes, William Atkinson, Jake Bennett, Ethan Mann, Ben Sault, GOAL 53 minutes, cautioned, William Trueman, Leon Clarke, GOAL, 3 minutes, (Stuart Beavon), Marcus Barnes, Oliver Greaves.
Substitutes not used – Finley Ryder, Samue Tomlinson, Zak Sandu, Braddon Ferron.
Referee – Mr M Fletcher, assisted by Mr AJones and Mr C Cattanach-Chell.
Attendance 640
REPORT BY PIPEMAN