Report
Although neither club wanted it, there are many of us who still applauded the existence of replays in this competition, even if it is an endangered species and that they cease to exist at the first round, proper. At Top Field it had been a typical cup tie, and Athletic seized a notable lead within a quarter of an hour and spent the rest of the game trying to hang onto it, resisting increasing pressure and the almost inevitable equaliser came in the game’s few remaining seconds of stoppage time.
We were pleasantly surprised at the ease of the outward journey, and we arrived at Chadfields very early, which is no bad thing. It was also very pleasant to read praise for our club written by the Grays Chairman Lee Vehit. It was much appreciated.
With a glamour tie at Potters Bar awaiting the victors, I wondered if those rampant Norwegians who support that club will make the journey. The noisy Grays supporters would be a match for them in terms of decibels. I think everyone hoped that tonight’s tie would avoid extra time and penalties. This was granted.
Chadfields is currently the home of Tilbury FC, and Grays are sharing facilities until such time that they can move to Thurrock’s former ground. This was my first visit to this ground and the last time I was in the immediate vicinity was with my bicycle to use the Gravesend – Tilbury ferry, on my way home after a tour.
Grays were unchanged from Saturday and Hitchin had starts for Heaps, Tearle and Jackman. There was a delay in the kick off as one of the goals was ‘out of true’. Remedial work was hastily carried out eventually to the referee’s satisfaction.
The first Hitchin attack brought a corner for Hitchin, taken short and caused a bit of a problem. Silcott-Brown was again in evidence with his pace and he won a free kick from a Jones foul. This was taken by Joynes and cleared by Jones.
Rhiney was caught offside but there was a suggestion that he might outpace his marker during the course of the game. Then, after seven minutes there was a delightful lob from Alemanji which left the goalkeeper stranded and nestled obligingly in the net. It was a cheeky, opportunistic goal and it proved to be the winner.
A minute or two later Tearle shot wide. There was more attacking play from the visitors, with Marsh needing to come off his line to snub out one effort. Alemanji was proving to be a torment on and off the ball. Tearle was penalised was a high boot, and the hosts hit back with a free header from Clark. A glancing header from Rhiney was not that far away from success.
Both teams tried conclusions with free kicks, but defences were alert. Fitzer’s long range effort was as good as it looked and had to be monitored by Bowler. Tearle won a corner at the expense of injury. Alemanji tried a header and Marsh was able to stop it on the line. Twilight was settling over the nearby container port and ‘the lost language of cranes’. Home supporters were relatively subdued as Hitchin continued to play the more effective football.
Heaps tried a shot from some distance but was wide. Coldicott-Stevens got in a spoiling challenge but needed some treatment as a result. The home drums started in the interim. Fitzer had two goes, both being saved by Bowler, but the Grays man was close.
This signalled a decent spell for the hosts, but they were frustrated at the concession of free kicks. Tracking from Hitchin was good and some home players exchanged harsh words. There were about five minutes to the end of the half. There was a dangerous cross that found no attacking boot, thankfully, but the hosts went at it full tilt until the whistle. A late free kick was scrambled away as Hitchin tried a late foray and Kane’s cross saw Alemanji head just over.
At the resumption Heaps was replaced by McDonald for Hitchin. Grays began aggressively, and they replaced Hope with Bantick, owing to injury. Hitchin needed to impose their own pace on proceedings which would, of course, be hotly disputed. There was a blocked shot for the hosts who won a vital free kick, centrally just outside the penalty area. The four-man wall did its job following Nolan- Samuel’s effort.
More possession was needed for Hitchin and Tearle’s booking was not surprising given the weight of the push. The free kick was wide on the left and missed by all the craning necks. Rhiney held the ball up well but lacked support. I was worried about the lack of coordination that had crept into Hitchin’s game. Better passing moves were needed and not the profligate concession of throw- ins. There was a worrying few moments in the visitors’ penalty area where it was touch and go whether the move would be defended.
Home supporters counted every time Bowler picked up the ball and always made it over the eight seconds, by speeding up a bit. Gordon replaced flying winger Silcott- Brown and Hitchin looked like they were preparing someone. I felt we were underusing our wingback threat of Franklin and Kane. There was still a long way to go, and we needed to improve the quality of play.
Gleeson replaced Tearle and it was hoped we would benefit from his distribution and experience. A hopeful handball appeal was dismissed for Grays and there was a wasteful free kick from Hitchin. A breakaway saw Alemanji dispossessed, and Marsh ran from his line again to send the ball back into the Hitchin half.
I must say it did not bode well at this juncture. Rhiney was replaced by Bomolo. Alemanji won a free kick in an area where the angle was very tight, and Marsh held it in any case. The situation of Saturday’s game seemed reversed with those in Blue pushing manfully for the equaliser.
The hopeful punts up field needed to be replaced by a good piece of passing football, that had marked Hitchin’s play at Top Field. A fortuitous free kick came their way, with JCS failing to connect.
There were two minutes of normal time to go and a good deal of stoppage time to tack on, and we all know what can happen. First Gleeson was booked despite the usual protestations and there was a free kick wide on the left. Seven no doubt painful minutes were added and in the first of these Bowler needed to tip an effort over the crossbar and a negligible corner followed. Still Hitchin struggled for possession. A long throw careered in and was partially cleared. Then Hitchin were caught offside. Alemanji had a further chance but could not pull the trigger.
A long throw into the crowded penalty box brought a corner for the hosts and the ball landed on the roof of the net. Could we endure the penance of extra time? Another launch of a long throw, another corner and a goal kick. Time was virtually up, and I made it a generous minute to go. It came and went, and the Canaries stuttered to victory. Honesty compels me to say it was not, ultimately, an inspiring win. We defended deeply and grimly in a difficult second half and our attacking option was reduced to a clearing lob up-field in the hope that someone on yellow might connect.
But it is still a win and that is important, and we may hope that the team can be in invigorated for the forthcoming games against Rayners Lane in the league and Potters Bar in the FA Cup. We sincerely thank all at Grays Athletic or their wonderful hospitality and we wish them well in their league campaign and their quest for a new home.
Grays Athletic
Marsh
Brampton
Joynes
Walker
Clark (C)
Jude
Fitzer
Shelvey-Negus
Hirst
Hope
Silcott-Brown
Substitutes
Bantick (for Brampton)
Paxman (for Shelvey-Negus)
Nolan-Samuels (for Hope)
Gordon (for Silcott-Brown)
Romer & Gardner were unused
Hitchin Town
Bowler
Franklin
Kane
Briggs
Jackman
Jones (C)
Heaps
Coldicott-Stevens
Rhiney
Alemanji (Goal – 7 mins), Reporters MOTM
Tearle
Substitutes
McDonald (for Heaps)
Bomolo (for Rhiney)
Gleeson (for Tearle)
Morrall, Joy, Butler and Brooks were unused
Referee: Mr J Burgess, assisted by Mr C Bowdery and Mr C Parkinson.
Attendance: 291
Report by Pipeman
Photos by Peter Else