Report
Fortunately for us, the rain of biblical proportions, had no threat of postponement to our scheduled game, since our Suffolk colleagues have an artificial pitch. It is many years since I have been to Brundon Lane, and today I found that my memory escaped me, and it was pleasing to see the purposeful layout of the stadium.
But it was with me for this crucial game, which could have implications about relegation for both clubs. We have already played AFC Sudbury twice this season and won both. The first was a home win in the FA Cup, and the second was a home league game. But a reflection on our previous form is now almost meaningless, and it was clear that both teams had the clearest incentive to win.
Team news revealed a start for Finley Wilkinson, and, somewhat surprisingly, Alex Kpapke was on the substitutes’ bench. I say that because he was outstanding in the last game.
So, the third meeting commenced and I daresay with some trepidation, with the hosts playing some long balls that found no intended target. It was better when they played along the ground, quickly forcing a corner. Bateson foiled an early chance and Wilkinson could feasibly have snatched the lead, but he appeared to evince great surprise at finding the ball at his feet. Horlock punched a decent shot away at the other end. Callum Page sent in a decent shot, but the effort was adjudged offside.
Already it was a good, open game. Horlock went low to save one from range and there was good defensive work from Toby Syme in denying Josh Allen. Bradbrook came off his line to snuff out one chance and Wilkinson was prevented from lobbing the keeper. Snelus had a decent shot that Bradbrook kept out with is legs.
Gleeson won a corner from an attempted cross. This meek effort brought another corner which was almost as bad. Sudbury won a free kick, centrally outside the area, taken by Jake Turner and saved by Charles Horlock. It was Sudbury’s turn for a corner and indeed a double save from Horlock. Napa’s run on goal was neatly foiled by Tearle’s intervention.
It must be said that the chances for the host were greater in number, but Hitchin had had their moments, and then Tearle, receiving a splendid pass from Georgiou had his shot deflected for a corner. We had seen half an hour of good attacking football but no goals as yet. A double attempt from Hitchin came to nothing and I suspect both sides would have liked to have taken a lead to the interval that was only five minutes away. This actually occurred with Horlock beaten for the first time as Josh Allen inverted with a low shot after forty- three minutes. Just three minutes were added but not exploited by Hitchin.
I chatted to a couple of Sudbury officials whose general question was what had gone wrong to cause this dreadful run of losses. It was was a difficult one to answer. The simple one is to say that we are just not good enough, but that denigrates the team too much, a team that had reached the play-off positions. But I always maintained that our excellent early run had a touch of good fortune about it, with some last gasp wins. Many of the defeats in the hapless run have often been by a single goal, but they are still defeats, nonetheless.
There was a delay to the start of the second half as one of the assistants needed replacing. I wonder where they procured him, but well done, all the same. So, Hitchin needed two goals without conceding and it seemed a major task. It was a fair start, spoilt by ineffective passing.
One cross from Hitchin drew a lusty shout of handball that was ignored by the referee. Lynch did well on the chase, but his cross was intercepted. A free kick was wasted. Then Horlock was penalised for picking up a back pass in his area. This free kick was well worked but unsuccessful.
Hitchin attempted some close passing manoeuvres that were frustrated, and the home defence was holding out well. Kpapke replaced Eadie as the hosts won a corner and then a free kick, which Horlock held. I found myself glancing at the electronic scoreboard, noting how time was rapidly passing.
It was hard to see just where a goal for Hitchin was coming from case, we still looked lightweight up front and the service for Wilkinson and Lynch was negligible. Then Tearle was replaced by Bell with just over a quarter of an hour to go. Some head tennis in the opposition bench resulted in a Sudbury free kick. Bateson hobbled off injured and was replaced by Cotter.
More heavy touches followed, and it did occur to me that Hitchin had not had a goal attempt in this second half. Even from a corner Lynch could not reach to get in the connecting header. To be honest it had been poor stuff in the latter stages from Hitchin. Five minutes were added which was something.
There was a free kick from Gleeson that was far too low, and the next urgent effort was offside. Soon after the whistle went and thus, we were consigned to yet another defeat. According to our fixtures secretary we have now lost fifteen out of seventeen in all competitions. It is highly probable that it is the worst period in the club’s history.
Sudbury were the better side overall and they were very glad of the points, being fellow strugglers. I think those three points adequately avenges their defeat in both the league and the FA cup at Top Field.
We thank them for their hospitality, and I hope they will forgive my imagination, since, sitting in their boardroom seemed to remind me of a 1970’s cross channel ferry.
Both clubs competing today have their work cut out to steer clear of relegation, and for Hitchin that prospect was unlikely for so long in the season, a season which rapidly turned sour. Our secretary, Roy Izzard was so visibly upset after the game, with this latest reverse coming just before the momentous week before the Testimonial game to mark his fifty years of service to the club.
AFC SUDBURY
James Bradbrook, Oluminde Oluwatimilehin, Charlie Lewis, Thomas Dickens, cautioned, Jake Turner, captain, cautioned, Ben Hunter, Malachi Napa, (Joe Tarpey), Callum Page, (Oliver Caley-Brown), Romario Dunne, Josh Allen, GOAL, 1-0 43 minutes, Jacob Pinnington.
Substitutes not used- James Philp, Afolabi Soyemi-Ololade, Philip Brown-Bampoe.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charles Horlock, captain, Kye Tearle, (Bradley Bell), Layne Eadie, (Alex Kpapke, Toby Syme, Ciaren Jones, Jack Bateson, (Kavan Cotter), Stanley Georgiou, Stephen Gleeson, Oliver Lynch, Jack Snelus, Finley Wilkinson.
Substitutes not used- Isaac Galliford, John Freeman.
Referee-Mr Jack Wilmer, assisted by Mr Leigh Ballinger and Mr Stephen Tymms.
Attendance 374.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN