Report
It was a bit touch and go but the pitch inspection was positive and off we went to Worcestershire to take on The Church at Lye Meadow. They impressed us at Top field earlier in the season, despite losing 2-0 to the Canaries.
Talking of losing, Hitchin Town lost four points before a ball was kicked owing to the latest demise of Nuneaton Town, whose resignation from the Southern League means that their results will be expunged, and our home win and away draw will count for nothing. AFC Sudbury will lose six points as will St Ives, but rules are rules and that is all there is to it. A degree of sympathy is felt for the genuine supporters of Nuneaton, but none is reserved for those who have caused this third implosion. It has yet to be confirmed by the League that three instead of four will be relegated.
Some team news for Hitchin was the inclusion of Josh Popoola who was at Hitchin a couple of seasons ago, and has been re-signed by the club, from Stockport County. Bradley Bell is the latest on the lengthy injury list.
The fixture at Lye Meadow was the only grass fixture passed for playing in the division, so I was told. We began with a poor Hitchin clearance that permitted a weak shot from Dyer and then Dugmore sent in a cross that was as inaccurate as it was enthusiastic. Popoola was penalised for a challenge and Clayton-Phillips wasted the free kick.
There followed a chance for Matshazi, provided by Eadie but the move favoured Hollingshead, the home keeper. Some positive play then followed from the visitors who were settling on the notorious slope. Snelus had a shot on target, but it was routine for the keeper.
Tearle’s menacing g cross just needed a touch but failed to get it. Gleeson;’s cross from the left was too close to the keeper, but the Canaries were looking good so far. Tearle and Popoola combined well but the cross brought just a corner, delayed by the usual shoving and it was Popoola’s low shot that opened the scoring, striking as he did, inside the crowded box. The goal was timed at seventeen minutes.
Upon resumption, The Church were awarded a free kick wide on the left which resulted in a harmless header but representing their only chance on goal so far.
Then Dawkins was cautioned as Hitchin had a free kick in a similar position. This looked promising but the effort petered out with a goal kick. Tearle had a deflected shot and appealed for some infringement seen only by him.
At this stage, Hitchin were comfortable and having more of the possession. Play was held up owing to an injury to Mitchell but resumed with another forward move from Hitchin. A fine move from The Church saw Dyer denied the equaliser by an outstretched boot from Horlock. This was the first time that they looked dangerous. They had a good spell that lasted a few minutes but in the final third, moves tended to be broken down with either anticipation or poor passing.
McLeod fashioned a shot following a free kick, but this was wide of the target. Another free kick gave the hosts a further chance, but this led to a Hitchin counter where goal number two looked likely for a second or two. Gleeson sent in a corner which was defended and resulted in a caution for Cotter. About five minutes of the half remained and within this we saw Horlock down low to make a save.
Snelus weaved his way through in the penalty area, but his shot was straight at the keeper. This was the last significant moment of the half, which was a generally satisfactory one for Hitchin, who took a deserved lead to the interval.
Emovon’s deflected shot won a corner right at the start of the second half, and this was defended adequately. Hitchin were now playing uphill. Then there was an incident where Georgiou was cautioned and a free kick, just outside the area was awarded to the hosts. Clayton-Phillips provided and although the ball found the net, so was the offside flag raised.
The Church were playing a lot better going downhill and Hitchin needed to get a greater grip on proceedings. Gleeson took a knock which suggested that he might be replaced erelong. And indeed, Galliford did just that, almost immediately. Emovon conceded a free kick on the right and there was an attempt at an overhead kick that remained an attempt as the ball was cleared. A forward Hitchin move resulted in a free kick in a fair position, but Cotter put it wastefully into touch.
Emovon received a caution for, presumably, an off the ball incident and the game had a certain scrappiness about it as passes went astray and the game halted for avoidable fouls. Georgiou’s cross really ought to have been converted by Matshazi who unaccountably blasted over the bar from close range. Then Hitchin were called upon to do some defending and it was needed as successive home shots were blocked in a short-lived frenzy.
But there was no stopping Daniel Sweeney whose control in the box and excellent shot brought the equaliser that had been threatened for some time. There was still a good quarter of an hour to go, and Hitchin were well below the standard they achieved in the first half.
One promising move ended in derisory fashion, and such passivity was uncalled for. Popoola, tried one from range and its inaccuracy brought jeers from home supporters. Cassidy then found himself through on goal and it looked certain that he would put his side ahead, but the ball struck Horlock and went out for a corner. From this the hosts went ahead as Nantwi-Ofosu provided the all-important touch and we were reminded of Hitchin’s poor record of defending set pieces. Only minutes remained for Hitchin to avoid a sequential defeat, and, in truth, it did not look like they would score.
The second half saw but a poor resemblance to the positive play of the first period. Blennerhassett came on for the stoppage time, replacing Snelus. Five additional minutes was our allocation and it passed rapidly with some poor attempts at meaningful forward play. Alvechurch were obviously a going to hang on to what they had, and they had indeed done well to come from behind.
It was enough for them to win the game and leave Hitchin with the uncomfortable statistics of going eight games without a win, and within that there are just two draws. I will risk the pun that the second period was an uphill struggle and Hyde became Jekyll. The weakness from set pieces is still glaringly apparent despite work on the training ground.
ALVECHURCH
Ronnie Hollingshead, Josh Dugmore, captain, Ammar Dyer, Dylan Mitchell, Yaw Nantwi- Ofoso, GOAL, 2-1, 84 minutes, Ethan Patterson, cautioned, Ethan McLeod, (Jaanal Gordon), Kartell Dawkins, cautioned, Daniel Sweeney, GOAL, 1-1, 75 minutes, (Archie Crowther), Nicolas Clayton-Phillips, Ben Cassidy.
Substitutes not used – Jack Hallahan, Jack Concannon, Blake Kindred.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Stan Georgiou, cautioned, Dan Emovon, cautioned, Arnold Matshazi, Stephen Gleeson, (Isaac Galliford), Jack Snelus, (Tommy Blennerhassett ), Kavan Cotter, cautioned, Josh Popoola, GOAL, 17 minutes 0-1. Substitutes not used- Josh Mollison, GK, Dempsey Thomas, John Freeman.
Referee- Mr Joe Woolmark, assisted by Mr Tom Roberts and Mr Phillip Lindsey.
Attendance 306
REPORT BY PIPEMAN