Report
In this penultimate friendly a squad of possibles and probables all saw action at some stage of the game, which seemed to be played in a more leisurely pace. It was pleasant to return to Fairfield Road and see Heather and Tracy who have been the soul of this club that has been returned to the Spartan Premier Division after a spell in the United Counties League.
I was given a team sheet for the Hitchin team and the home announcer raced through the Biggleswade selection too fast for me to keep up, so apologies for that. Playing on another thirsty pitch, the teams began to probe and the first effort on goal came from a Kye Tearle free-kick which was sent straight to the home keeper. Jonny Allotey’s effort was better and his fine shot drew an equally fine save at the expense of a corner, which soon brought another, but this was easily defended.
A home manoeuvre saw a forced corner, which was dealt with and with only eleven minutes played Meakes, in trying to connect meaningfully with a long forward ball was fouled in the process with Jack Morrell converting the penalty with pleasing emphasis. After this, the striker had a half chance which resulted soon after with a Hitchin free-kick, wide on the left. Again Tearle fired straight at the keeper.
A move involving Kane and Allotey was cut out by the keeper and Allotey’s next effort was a shot that was robustly blocked. The lively Ackom won a corner which was again defended confidently. A fair move involving the eager Dasilva, Tearle and Allotey saw the last named dispossessed quite neatly. Ackom won a corner from a swiftly taken free-kick and this lead to a Meakes shot that was saved.
United had some ideas but they were inconclusive as attacking moves were broken down. Allotey, spotting the keeper off his line wanted to loft one over his head but he ended up shooting meekly. The game was very much a stop/start affair with too many free kicks conceded at the expense of rhythmical play and the next effort for the visitors saw Syme head over the bar.
After the half hour mark the hosts began to coordinate their play and they had a bit of a spell where they looked a little more purposeful. They won a free-kick which was right on the edge of the area but the effort struck the defensive wall. Another home shot went harmlessly wide. Terarle’s next free kick was on target but the keeper was equal; to it and he watched Morell’s effort from range clear the bar by a good margin. Dasilva had a fine shot on target and once again the United keeper waved well.
Hitchin went to the interval with their lead but we all knew that there would be a number of substitutions – in fact all seven named were used, but it failed to produce any kind of dominance. If anything the hosts grasped the nettle and within three minutes of the restart they drew level with a fine goal that took a bit of a deflection to help it into the net.
If Hitchin had edged it in the first half then it may be fair to say that the hosts had the more positive second half, even if they could not effectively break down the visitors’defence. For the Canaries Meakes had a half chance but was let down by a poor first touch. Akinola was useful on the left and there were some good defensive touches from Anderson. Bell was combative in midfield and Dasilva showed willing but was inaccurate in his shpts on goal.
Just after the hour mark the hosts constructed a move that deserved a goal but the unchallenged shot was woeful, since it was one of those where he could have picked his spot with ease. Two successive hitchin moves were broken down and a neat back heel from Meakes gave Dasilva a shot that was somewhat weak and inaccurate.
Devine’s shot was better and the keeper made a good save, deflecting the ball for a corner, over hit by Tearle. Tshikala had a go and this was saved and by now all seven substitutes were on the pitch. A cross from Bell saw Devine try in vain to head the ball and Tearle’s pass to Dasilva saw the latter fire wastefully wide again.
Tshikala’s assistance late into the game saw Devine create a miss in proportion to the Biggleswade miss and a later chance for Biggleswade saw a bad finish and shortly after the referee called a halt and it was generally agreed that it was a fair result.
It was a game of reasonable entertainment but spoilt by the concession of too many free-kicks. The fluidity of the Watford X1 game was lacking, but no doubt it gave both managers some useful information about final selection for a competitive game.
We thank Biggleswade United for hosting the game and we wish them all the best on their return to the Spartan Premier Division.
The Hitchin squad, with all substitutes used in the second half was –
HORLOCK, ACKOM, KANE, SYME, ANDERSON, MORRELL, penalty goal, 11 minutes, CHAMBERS, TEARLE, MEAKES, DASILVA, ALLOTEY.
Substitutes- DEVINE, PARKER,GK, BELL, DEMPSEY, WILLIAMS, AKINOLA, TSHIKALA.
No details available for the opposition or match officials.
Attendance N/A.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN