Report
With the weather and COVID, ensuring postponements, Hitchin were pleased to secure a training game with not so distant neighbours Dunstable Town, who play in the Spartan Premier Division. The Bedfordshire side have been reinvigorated with the appointment of Joe Deeney and under his management the club has climbed away from the relegation zone.
The game was played in the 3G pitch adjacent to the main stadium, which was not playable in any case as AFC Dunstable’s home fixture against Kidlington was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch. It was enjoyable for me to make a return to my old club, but the only players I recognised were Daniel Trif and John Sontag. Facing the Duns were two of their former players in the shape of Jack Green and Rio Dasilva. Stan Georgiou was in the squad and those with long memories will remember that his father Steve was a former Dunstable Town player. Stan played will all his usual exuberance.
It was a fairly comfortable win for Hitchin, who dominated play but took their time before the first goal was scored. The game was played in a three thirds allocation of thirty minutes each, with the customary substitutions. What spectators there were stood beneath umbrellas or were stoically huddled against the rain and cold.
Jake Hutchinson was back after his enforced isolation and the first chance fell to him. There were some fine moves from Hitchin involving combination play, with Steve Cawley exhibiting perception with his passing and Dasilva looking quieter eager to score against his old club. Josh Coldicott-Stevens continued to display his fine reading of the game. Dunstable were forced to defend, which they did well, but they were always chasing for possession and it was some time before they mounted a meaningful forward move.
Hutchinson’s next shot drew a fine save from the home keeper. It was good to see Stephen Gleeson back, marshalling the defence in the absence of Dan Webb. Delsin Akom was lively at right back and it was good to see Moloney spreading play. Hutchinson encroached into the box and was denied by surefooted defending.
There was no score in the first third, but the moist important thing was that the players were getting in much needed game time after the disappointment of the two successive postponements of vital home games.
Dunstable fought hard in the second third and were getting a bit more of the play. Barker and Black came on for this session. The latter opened the scoring with a clinical finish and it was not before time. Dunstable were awarded a penalty by our appointed referee, Mr Josh Bickerstaff who had to whistle through his teeth in the absence of a whistle. The penalty brought a fine save from Charlie Horlock, who previously had not much action.
A Dunstable attack on the right brought a corner which was dealt with satisfactorily by the visitors. Stead had come on to play wide on the right and he took a good few minutes before he settled. Hutchinson’s next shot was again saved at the expense of a corner. Cawley’s assistance afforded another shot from Hutchinson and for a while Malaki Black’s goal was the separating factor. JCS blasted one over the bar and then Stead made it 2-0 with a fine finish.
Moloney headed over the bar from a corner as the visitors pressed for a third goal, and this was scored by Lewis Barker following a corner. Dasilva ought to have made it four but his shot was straight at the keeper, who had a fine match. There was a long clearance from Horlock, a real route one and Hutchinson was again foiled in his attempt to mark his return with a goal.
It was a fine work out for both teams and we thank all at Dunstable Town for accommodating this fixture at very short notice and we wish them good fortune for the rest of the season, and I must say that I do miss the serious meetings between these two teams. Hitchin are at home Sat 15 January against St Ives.
HITCHIN TOWN
Horlock, Akom, Brown, Green, Moloney, Gleeson, Jones, Dasilva, Black, Cawley, Kinoshi, Stead, Hutchinson, Coldicott-Stevens, Barker, Georgiou.
Apologies for any omissions and I was unable to get a team sheet for Dunstable.
Well done to Josh Bickerstaffe for taking on the role of referee.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN