Report
It was Boxing Day, a local derby, the A505 Derby, which I call El Hertico in an attempt to suggest a fierce rivalry; but in truth we like Royston and there has never been any animosity or the seizure of bragging rights.
Of interest was the fact that our former player, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, a firm favourite at Top Field, is now installed as captain of the Crows. For Hitchin, Steve Gleeson returned from a single match suspension, and Dan Idiakhoa made a start.
Garden Walk was soon a lively place, with plenty of Hitchin supporters in evidence and our media team was also broadcasting from the stand. This fixture has rarely been mean with goals and these games have always been entertaining. This one, however, proved to be an exception.
A decent Hitchin attack on the right resulted in a corner, and Toby Syme rose to head the ball accompanied by the referee’s whistle for an infringement. Hitchin were dominating possession in these early stages, but they were inconclusive. The hosts laboured with one attack, but the cross needed a full stretch save from Horlock, with Adam Murray looking likely to score.
It was a little scrappy from both sides, with the unintended loss of possession, even from a free kick. Royston won a corner, and it was Harness who tried a shot that was blocked by Georgiou. So, the two best chances so far had fallen to the hosts. Emovon sent in a high cross, but it was easily broken down.
Then there came a puzzling penalty award in the eighteenth minute, following a foul by Syme and the kick was taken by Harness, eventually. It was a successful kick, and the Crows took the lead. There was an incident where Bell and Wilkinson were given some sage words from the referee, which might have had something to do with Mvemba lying prone on the pitch as if he had been attacked with a blunt instrument.
This led to a short period of ill feeling and attacks from Hitchin that lacked proper conviction. They were yet to have a shot on target. We were in the twenty-sixth minute. Murray cleverly won possession which was too much for Tearle who fouled him. This led to a Royston attack. This in turn was broken down and Hitchin countered with a bit of style, but there was no end product.
Emovon’s free kick, with Bell’s attempts headed away and then there was a free kick in a good position, taken by Gleeson and defended adequately, So, still no real attempt on goal. Bell, ran in possession and shot woefully off target, but he had little option to pass. Georgiou was sent to the bench for some attention to what might have been a cut. The Crows had a free kick that saw Horlock grasp the ball and fall to the ground, fouled.
There was some hope that this game could develop from a stolid encounter to a greater freedom of expression and an omission of poor passing that gave an unwanted ending to a fair bit of preparatory play. Long balls forward were of no use, one even clattering the referee. Attacks on the right were anticipated and routinely dealt with.
Royston, who were the better team so far, had another corner, which, amazingly went straight into the goal but the referee disallowed it. At the other end Idiakhoa. Bell was robbed of possession in the six-yard box, and he was given a talking too before a Royston free kick that saw Horlock take command again.
We were approaching half time and a Hitchin equaliser looked increasingly unlikely, given the lack of finesse in forward moves. Playing out from the back saw the Crows anticipate the move and three additional minutes were tacked on to this rather poor half. Hitchin had a corner, taken by Gleeson. This was defended but Emovon kept a move going, but Tearle’s foul ended that.
And the half ended with the Hitchin contingent somewhat underwhelmed at the mute performance – a whole half without a shot on goal. There was a half time substitute – with Matshazi replacing Bell, who had received a caution. Then there was a double booking for one of the Hitchin bench staff, and the recipient had to make his way to the dressing room. Thou shall not cuss the referee.
There was a cross from Emovon and Matshazi was thwarted – then, good lord there was a flash shot from Royston that came lustily off the post and that post denied the hosts a second goal. Hitchin continue to stutter in attack, and this was punctuated by a caution for Harness who had upended Tearle. Quality football was still woefully absent. Royston won a corner, which was snatched by Horlock, and players appeared to be going down at the slightest provocation, which I need hardly say, affected what flow there was in this impoverished game.
Murray tried to gain a further penalty with a strategic fall to earth. The referee and most spectators were unimpressed.
Still no shot on goal and I was beginning to think it would only come if we somehow were awarded a penalty. A cross from Anyadike favoured Horlock.
Wilkinson had a whisker of a chance that he could not fulfil and yes, down went another home player who was actually pulled upright by the referee.
Coldicott-Stevens set up Anyadike who took time over his shot, but Horlock saved well. We still awaited a proper shot on goal from the Canaries. They were stifled with a combination of good play and gamesmanship. But we cannot deny that it was the hosts who had, so far, all the shots on goal.
An intended Tearle cross was beaten down, and Idiakhoa did send in an exploratory cross that reached no-one. Matshazi won a corner, which was greeted with enthusiasm, which itself was suddenly lacking when the referee blew for an infringement. Then there was a flurry of attacking excitement culminating with a Gleeson shot, straight at Chadwick, who, I was told, scored with a header in his last game. So, Horlock is not the only keeper to score a league goal. Chadwick had gone upfield in stoppage time and his header salvaged a point.
Gleeson set in a rather poor free kick and a Tearle’s throw-in failed to keep up the slight increase in momentum. Substitutes were announced and on came.
Snelus for Cotter. Murray’s header was just inches wide and had it gone in, Hitchin could have no complaint. There were time-wasting, petty disputes off the ball. A Gleeson free kick saw Tearle put in a low cross that won a corner.
Then, it appeared that really was booked for simulation right at the edge of the box.
Georgiou’s cross was intercepted and there remained fewer than ten minutes for an equaliser to be achieved. There was another delay with a home player down and claiming injury and JCS took a decent free kick.Had it not been for the soft penalty this would have been one of those goal-less games that you hasten to forget. Snelus began a move defended by Henry and Chadwick held the high cross.
We saw a sign that seven minutes would be added which reflected the number of stoppages. There was a free kick for Hitchin at about twenty-five yards and fairly central. Wilkinson’s shot was straight at Chadwick. Another chance gone.
Eadie’s cross was returned with indignation, and Wilkinson was robbed of possession in the box. Royston had a free kick lol following a throaty appeal and Murray cunningly won a corner. This just wasted time but Hitchin, in going forward had all the pluck but not the wherewithal to do something more vital with the moves.
The whistle went and although there were home cheers, they must have conceded to themselves that this game was undeniably poor and really should have ended ‘disgracefully’ as a nil-nil. Such poor stuff was served up in this festive region that gave travelling Hitchin supporters very little to celebrate.
Having said that I will willingly concede that it was Royston who had the better chances, and indeed it was only the list that prevented a second goal, and Murray’s header looked good enough for a goal.
There was very little for Hitchin in the opposing penalty area, and we did not really deserve a goal. There was some pressure in the second half and Royston needed to defend carefully, but the goal threats were lacking, and the game plan looked a little awry.
I feel that the bumper attendance of 643 deserved better entertainment than what was served up on a lumpy pitch, but it is what it is and there were no points for hitchin on Boxing Day, yet again.
ROYSTON TOWN
Louis Chadwick, Gregory Sandiford, cautioned, Charlie Johnson, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, captain, captain, Adam Murray, Man of the Match, Ronnie Henry, Damaray Anyadike, James Brighton, Kian Harness, PENALTY GOAL,19 MINUTES, cautioned, (Tsagium Florian), Samson Esan, (Edward Asafu-Adjaye), Sam Mvemba. Substitutes not used- Mackye Townsend West, Fabio Viricigilo, Olu Akintunde.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, cautioned, (Arnold Matshazi), Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Daniel Emovon, Stan Georgiou, Kye Tearle, Stephen Gleeson, Dan Idiakhoa, Kavan Cotter, (Jack Snelus), Finley Wilkinson. Substitutes not used – John Freeman, Isaac Galliford, Ryan Sellers,
Referee – Mr M Stetakovic, assisted by Mr D Statham and Mr M Bright.
Attendance 643
REPORT BY PIPEMAN