Report
Full marks to Hitchin Town today for effort and concentration as well as artistic interpretation, but the real points went to Alvechurch for their stern and unyielding rearguard action, where they doggedly defended their eighth minute lead, with a slice of good fortune here and there.
This was probably the most frustrated that home supporters must have felt since their team dominated possession, had varied ideas, and were fluid in play but they simply could not score, and the near misses seemed to add to the anxiety.
There was one change in the starting eleven, with Alex Brown unavailable – possibly in detention for his penalty miss at Lowestoft, where another frustrating result had been obtained, and two points were definitely dropped.
If it can be said that Hitchin ought to have won both these games, we need to praise, in the same breath, the way that the opposition dug in their heels to prevent a Hitchin victory.
The hosts began in an aggressive attacking mood, forcing two early corners, which although good in their way, tended to exhibit the spoiling aerial skill of Church skipper Jamie Willets who was there to intervene in a rioting manner, heading the ball away from danger. He was aided and abetted by Josh Ezewele, Ethan Sephton and Tom Turton.
The first indication that the toast would fall butter side down was when Moloney missed a sitter, although he may claim fairly that the ball bobbled to affect his strike. Then, a little later he latched on to a through ball and his fine shot clipped the junction of post and crossbar. He scored from the same position against Leiston. Sephton’s cross to Claudio Dias was a fine one but Dias shot uncomfortably wide.
In their best move of the match, Alvechurch pressed forward on the right, with McLintock assisting and Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton’s shot was on target, the ball entering the net off the post. It took Hitchin by surprise since they had been relentless in going forward themselves and, indeed, this goal, fine as it was, had an air of surprise about it. An immediate response was needed. A free-kick on the right from Gleason enabled a wide shot from Dasilva. Jones combined with Stead and a Dasilva cross was cleared – again the Church defence seemed to be winning much in the air. Black’s intended cross to Stead was cleared by Sephton, as was Moloney’s follow up. Cutting in instead of cross in was tried occasionally but this met with very limited success. Stead’s next effort was a low shot, straight at Daniel Jezeph. Hull timed his intervention following a cross from Barker, and Willets was there to spoil another chance but at the expense of a corner. This brought a shot from Stead that was deflected for another corner. This was beaten away and there was amusement when a following cross aimed at Barker seemed to knock him over.
The pattern of varied attack was met by precise defending, with errors carefully avoided. Alvechurch’s Waldron did manage a weakish headed effort that was held by Horlock, but it was their defending that was the more noteworthy – defending a slender lead, with a subtle eye on the chance of a quick counter move. From yet another corner, Moloney would have done better to avoid his ballooning header and left it to Webb who was lurking, better placed within the area. The pressure on The church did not weaken their resolve, in fact it seemed to fortify it and what time they ‘wasted’ was with legitimate play, passing the ball around in defence and regrouping when necessary.
But towards the end of the first half, Hitchin’s own resolve was held in abeyance as Alvechurch enjoyed a short period of attack. This might easily have been undone when Hitchin repossessed and a telling pass to Stead saw him bear down on the goal. His shot looked goal bound but for the trailing leg of Jezeph who knew little about it but his short prayer was answered. The sting had seemed to go from Hitchin attacks this half, but for two late corners and the referee intervened in the second one to call time for this first period.
At least the team was doing its best to score and deserved to be level or even ahead, but we know that it is not enough to batter a defence – a way through must be found and what few set pieces there were did not penetrate. It seemed a long time ago that we stood dumbfounded after two and a half minutes where Hitchin had scored two goals in Suffolk and suggested that they would score more. Here today, one would do for the moment, to get equilibrium and then impose their superiority.
Easier said than done, of course, but they had a good go and we must praise them for doing their very best, as if they had heard many comments I have received that suggest they are too good to be at the bottom of the table. That must, however be proved with positive results. We must cease to be a nearly team, built at the moment it seems that nobody will let us.
In the second half Alvechurch defended a little more deeply but just as effectively and Jezeph pulled off the save of the match at point blank range from Stead. A Marsh run saw him could in possession and the following free-kick, from Dasilva was as close as it could get, so close that I was not the only one who thought it had been converted. Another free kick was effectively defended, so drat, drat and triple drat.The pace was good, possession was maintained, ideas were formed and just failed in their execution.
Hitchin made all permitted substitutes, with Cawley being the most effective. More corners were won and defended, but as time waned, the passing became a little less precise and often chances seemed downright wasted. again Jezeph denied Stead with an excellent piece of play. Yes, there was a little gamesmanship from The Church, but before we can point a finger of blame, remember that had the score been in our favour the players could go for a drinks break whilst waiting for Horlock to take a goal kick.
Ezewele and Sephton were booked for time-wasting and a silly handball to spoil a throw-in. A Gleeson free-kick saw the goalkeeper punch away for a corner and it was almost a summing up off events. It was one of those games where a penalty or an own goal would be the only way back. Dasilva delayed his shot just long enough to see his chance denied and good work from Stead brought another corner and Willets, my man of the match was there to see it safely away. He would probably have smiled if he had caught sight of my metaphorically shaken fist.
As I trudged to the club house I could hear The Church in a litany of celebration, and they may indeed be pleased as it was a classic away performance – a sniffled lead defended imperiously and the points taken with them to the coach, leaving Hitchin to nurse their wounds and rue their chances. Yes, they deserved a draw at least and it may well have been but for that snapped up early chance, and it puts a stop to the four games without defeat (with three of them drawn, I need to add).
We must not despair as yet; adrift we may be but the team had shown that it has both character and quality but is a little short on good fortune at the moment. There is a domestic cup tie at Tring Athletic on Tuesday before the team again takes to the road to take on Barwell in Leicestershire. I will end on a domestic note to report a presentation to the evergreen Steve Barker, pun intended, before the match, to commemorate his thirty years as senior groundsman. It is men like Steve and his dedication that form the backbone off any club. Cheers, Steve.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Dan Akubuine, (Jack Green), Malaki Black, Stephen Gleeson, Daniel Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, Lawrie Marsh, (Stephen Cawley), Lewis Barker, Callum Stead, sponsors’ man of the match, Matthew Moloney, (Sam Meakes), Rio Dasilva. Unused substitutes- Ryan Smith and Josh Coldicott-Stevens.
ALVECHURCH
Dan Jezeph, Josh Ezewele, cautioned, Ethan Sephton, cautioned, Tom Turton, Jamie Willets, captain, this reporter’s man of the match, Joe Hull, Sam McLintock, Claudio Dias, (Ethan Patterson), Dan Waldron, Mitchel Candin, cautioned, (Jack Hallahan), Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton, GOAL, 8 MINUTES,(Ben Cassidy). Unused substitutes – Leon Phillips, GK, Charlie Dowd.
REFEREE: Mr M Pond, assisted by Mr D Baines and Mr F Meng.
ATTENDANCE: 401
REPORT BY PIPEMAN