Report
Like the best of scripts, the drama had taken us to the very last day. It was all clear- we had to win, and no other result would mean survival. Sudbury had to lose away to Leamington and if they drew or won, we were doomed. A draw for us was equally no good. So many people have remarked on the team’s flying start to the season, with more or less the same personnel. The prolonged slump seemed inexplicable, but relegation seemed a remote possibility until Sudbury began to lessen the gap and indeed overhaul Hitchin, and for this they do deserve enormous credit.
The weather was dull, and it was cold. The pitch at Top Field was remarked on for its still pristine quality. The club bulletin had already announced that this would be goalkeeper Charlie Horlock’s last game for the club, and it was unconnected with the current team situation. We will miss him.
Stourbridge had today adopted a kit listed on the team sheet as ‘electric blue’ and indeed we hoped that they had no shocks in store for us. They did begin as the livelier side and Hitchin found it difficult to break from their own half. Brad Bood had the first attempt for the Glassboys , which was a fair lob held comfortably by Horlock.
We had a delay when Shane Bush required treatment. Hitchin supporters had filled the uncovered end, with inflatable canaries on show. Stourbridge had a knot of supporters behind a couple of flags. Bush was substituted by Joel Anker, since his injury could not permit him to continue.
There was a Hitchin half chance with the ever-optimistic appeal for a penalty, which was ignored and then the substitute Anker appeared to take a knock and down went for treatment. This was inauspicious and off went Anker, replaced by Isaac Galliford. Stourbridge were at this time coping very well with Hitchin’s feverish attempts to get the ball into the opposition half. A Lewis Barker challenge incurred the wrath of a couple of Stourbridge players, and he ended up being cautioned. Jack Fletcher was the player injured and again the delay was considerable. Twenty minutes had gone and there was little to commend Hitchin’s play so far. One attack looked frenzied, but it was of no consequence.
Kpakpe had a characteristic run that thrilled until his pass proved wayward. The next effort saw two players impeded but legitimately so, since the referee saw no reason to stop play. Then Barker appeared to take a knock and was treated off the pitch as play continued. Barker reappeared in what is known as the numberless ‘blood shirt.’ He then received a second yellow and was dismissed for returning to the pitch without permission-and thus Hitchin were down to ten men. Then there was a kerfuffle on the bench and the referee had to deal with this and the taunts from the terraces were predictable.
It was as if everything was going against the hosts who were now pressed back. The referee was again called to his assistant and there was a red card shown, not for Brett Donnelly but I think Michael Jones. The atmosphere here was far from cordial, but at least Stourbridge were trying to play football and the referee was increasing his unpopularity with decisions that angered the home crowd, regardless of their being correct.
One Hitchin attack was defended well, and we were still waiting, with thirty-seven minutes gone, for a meaningful attack on the Stourbridge goal. But having said that, the Glassboys were also shy of positive attacks. Then Ciaren Jones went down injured, but the delay was minimal. The poor old ref incurred more wrath when he awarded a goal kick that was possibly a corner.
In terms of football, we had seen a poor half, and I suppose it was not helped by the urgency of the situation and the demands on the ten men. They could not break down the Glassboys’ defence, whatever they tried, and they did indeed try towards the end of this eventful period, that was not entirely filled with just football.
Seven minutes were added because of the numerous stoppages. The same problems remained, with Hitchin very lightweight up front, and service to them being of variable quality. The stoppage time was notable for Stourbridge possession and fair preparatory play.
An ironic cheer greeted the award of a Hitchin free kick, but this failed to produce any threat and we drifted towards the interval. I did hear more moans that Lewis Barker was sent off for returning to the field of play without permission. This was odd it was felt, as he was on for some time before he was shown the card. The referee explained this later that the rule call for the stoppage to be instigated after a natural break in play. Then we heard that Sudbury had conceded a goal, but where was our scoring opportunity? A couple of corners were gained with the Fishponds Road end singing ‘one nil to the Leamington’, perhaps to ensure our players heard. There was a shot, but it struck side netting.
Hitchin were pressing and we hoped it could be sustained. There was some niggly play in midfield and some poor forward passing. Each time a move was started it seemed to be broken down. Kpakpe was brought down on a run and there was a free kick wide on the right. This was beaten away and one could feel the frustration. Kpapke was fouled again and once again the free kick came to nothing.
Down went Galliford, but the magic sponge restored him. The attendance wa announced and it was a bumper 1,141 and oh how they deserved something, urging on the ten men. The referee, missing or overlooking a foul allowed play to continue and it was a real chance for Stourbridge, but the linesman signalled offside. This was the decision on the next Hitchin foray and predictably it was met by jeers, even though the decision was a correct one.
Horlock then made a point blank save against Fremantle, which reminded us that the visitors were not just idling the game away. They were indeed stubborn in defence, anticipating moves and dealing with them accordingly. I longed for a free kick for us in a dangerous area, or a penalty, such was the feeling that we were slipping away.
Galliford’s shot was weak and deflected into the keeper’s hands. Bateson created a move that just lacked the desired finish. More like this was desperately needed. Butterfield had a deflected shot, and Luke Benbow replaced Fremantle. Horlock sent the ball forward and a defender sent it back again, showing that some finesse was indeed desirable. Price in goal was alert to hopeful lobs. Benbow had a shot that Horlock saved well.
A free kick for Hitchin was again lacking in significance but the boys were battling, preventing Holmes from getting in a clean shot, then Portman came very close following a cross. Back came Hitchin and were caught offside. Prosser had a low shot blocked and there was something of an incident when Gleeson went down, and the delay was longer than expected. Kettle was spoken to, but I was not sure who it was who received a caution.
But more to the point, Gleeson was dismissed, for kicking Benbow and the hosts were down to nine men and maybe Sudbury losing two – nil would have no significance. Hitchin player discipline was under scrutiny here but being reduced to nine men was farcical. Seven minutes were added, and Price made a save for a corner and even Horlock came up for this.
Then the ball was just cleared off the line, from a Horlock header off all people and the referee called a halt to play with Benbow having broken free at the other end. It seemed an odd decision and then the yellow card was brandished at Kpapke. A Glassboys defence was broken down, a home free kick awarded. Indeed, if the game went Hitchin’s way it would become a distinct memory, but in the next effort Price dived to retrieve the ball from any danger.
Horlock was off his line to be a temporary right back, a yellow card was shown for someone. Then Holmes of Stourbridge was clearly impeded, but the referee allowed play on. Butterfield broke free and really ought to have scored and then the whistle signalled the end of the game and Hitchin were consigned to relegation. The unthinkable had occurred and that long losing run was the principal cause.
Despite this, there were emotional scenes of appreciation and loyalty for the home team, who remained on the pitch to commiserate with the faithful. Had Charlie Horlock’s header gone in it would probably have been a winner and a saver for Hitchin and legendary status attained for our departing keeper. It would have been talked about for years
So, Hitchin are consigned to the First Division Central, and the only good thing is that with so many local games we will save on the coach bill, but all of us would prefer to have maintained Premier League status, and with many fierce derbies ahead, it will be difficult for us to gain promotion.
This was a hard and, in many ways, an unpalatable game, with the legitimate aggression from Hitchin coming in the late stages where the nine men played like twelve. It was a difficult task for the referee who had to brave out decisions which sometimes followed the letter but not the spirit of the law. He received many a jeer and psychologically there were those who needed to have someone to blame for Hitchin’s lack of success in this game. Had the team obtained just two more points in the last batch of games we would have been safe, but only just.
The new season will no doubt bring many changes and there will be a welcome break before we see what they are. But the club will, I hope retain the bulk of the magnificent support it has had all season, and there will be a return to success on the pitch.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Sponsors’ Man of the Match, Toby Syme, Layne Eadie, Lewis Barker, dismissed after two yellow cards, Jack Bateson, Ciaren Jones, Alex Kpapke, cautioned, Stephen Gleeson, dismissed, straight red card, Shane Bush, (Joel Anker, replaced by Isaac Galliford), Connor Vincent, George Devine, (Torin Ntege). Substitutes not used – Kavan Cotter, Daniel Emovon.
STOURBRIDGE
Charles Price, Niall Flint, cautioned, Harvey Portman, Kacy Butterfield, Joel Kettle, Jessy Bavanganga, Kian Ryely, cautioned, (Brendan Daniels), Alex Prosser, cautioned, Jack Fletcher, (Finley Holmes), Brad Bood, cautioned, Ethan Fremantle, (Luke Benbow). Substitutes not used – Koby Arthur, Jack Wilson.
Referee – Mr C Poole, assisted by Mr D Lander and Mr J Coupar.
Attendance- 1,141
REPORT BY PIPEMAN