Recap
I must start with my first view of the almost completed new stands/covered terracing at the Fishponds Road. They look magnificent and those at the club responsible deserve our heartiest appreciation. It is a huge improvement to Top Field and a source of pride to all Canary supporters. I also noticed that the stand housing the dressing room notice saying ‘Welcome to the feed up warm up stand,’ and as an old pedagogue I lament the absence of a comma after feed up.
I know, I should get out more.
I recall that last season in a friendly game at the Eyrie, Hitchin demolished Bedford 6-1, but since then the county town club has imported a number of new players and came within a couple of minutes of winning this last pre-season game. On their second-half display they could make a strong claim that they deserved it. As it was Alex Brown salvaged the game with a very late and undisputed penalty, which was some reward for Hitchin’s improved play after that limp defeat at Barton Rovers on Saturday. One vert interesting fact that Hitchin had in their team tonight two sets of brothers, the Marshes and the Browns – and I wonder how rare that is in a team.
Bedford Town will be contesting in the Southern League Division One Central, and judging them on this pertinacious display I think they would easily adapt to the Premier Division, which surely must be their ambition. Some interest was expressed that former Canary Callum Donnelly was in the starting line-up for the Eagles. Known as competitive and controversial, he did not disappoint and when he left the pitch it was not under the cloud of a red card, but a tactical substitution.
We had a first half that was tight as a drum, with some good football being played by both sides, even if the visitors demonstrated that the long ball, unfashionable and derided, is still a useful tactic for putting the wind up the defence. Home supporters clearly expected better things from Hitchin in this last test before the league programme, and they heeded this by attacking immediately. Yes the cross was cut out routinely by goal keeper Alex Street, but it was already better. The fashionable demand of playing out from the back was neatly accomplished without any embarrassing howlers, and in one attack, a free-kick was conceded by Donnelly, who of course, disputed it. It was in a good position but Rio Dasilva blazed it over the cross bar.
A Hitchin long forward pass was aimed at Callum Stead, who won a corner that was inelegantly sliced away, but it led to a Bedford break that won a free-kick that Craig Mackail-Smith saw his effort clear the cross bar. Bedford began to probe, but Hitchin still went forward, but this effort, like so many was ably intercepted. A Donnelly inspired move was defended and Stead worked well with Dasilva whose cross was held by Street. There was a snap shot from Alex Brown that was just wide, and a shot form Dasilva was also dealt with comfortably. Alex Marsh’s shot appeared to strike the post and a central free-kick from Bedford at about twenty-five yards again sailed apologetically over the cross bar.
In terms of chances in this first half, perhaps Hitchin could claim the lion’s share, but the Bedford defence was very effective. So this tight and intriguing half did not bring a goal and the sides were perfectly matched.
The Eagles brought on the well-known Rob Sinclair and it was this player’s incisive assistance that led to the opening goal after fifty-four minutes. The visitors had wrested the initiative after initial flurries from the Canaries, but that pass from Sinclair to fellow substitute Connor Tomlinson saw the latter’s low shot just deceive Charlie Horlock. Hitchin’s response was encouraging even if the dynamo that is Callum Stead ran into traffic and Dasilva’s cumnning little chip was neatly held by Street. Tjere was a fair chance for Hugh Alban-Jones that eas defended and another decent shot from scorer Tomlinson. At this stage the Eagles were loking for prey and held on to the initiative.
In defence they were sure-footed, with the agile Dasilva having his pockets picked on the edge of the area, but in all honesty, Tomlinson ought to have scored his second when he won possession and had time for a clear shot which he conspired to send wide. A Hitchin free-kick looked the business but Stead was denied his intended header and back came Bedford again. Hitchin had a good chance from a cunning little shot from Dasilva. There was further good work from Stead who set up substitute Henry Snee who shot painfully wide.
Bedford had another go from a counter attack, and it did look that they would hang on to this lead by sheer hard work. Then, as we neared the end of proceedings, Alex Marsh, attempted to latch onto a cross from Dasilva and the former was unceremoniously upended for an undisputed penalty, which was emphatically converted by Alex Brown. A few minutes remained and there was a bit of a hoo-hah when Stead tried in the best Italian style to gain a penalty (yes I am talking about you, you rotters), but it was correctly waved away and the referee had a word in Stead’s shell-like, and we know that all players try it on occasionally. Bedford might have won it with a late chance and it went wide and I feel that perhaps a draw was the equitable result.
I did not mention that there was another Hitchin substitution since Elvis, our mascot dog had been replaced with a different make of dog called Mossy, and he wore the scarf with patient endurance and a promise not to leave his visiting card in our new, posh stand, which we gather left our secretary with a shaking hand once he signed the cheque for payment. It will be open for the start of the season and we hope it is filled with Canary supporters.
I enjoyed the game but like many I allowed the thought that our coming league programme is going to be a stern test for our heroes in yellow and green, or magenta and black, as the occasion demands. It was sufficiently demanding and after all the preparatory games I think we have reasons to be cheerful. See you all at Redditch on 14 August. We wish Bedford Town all the best in their forthcoming campaign.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Dan Akubuine, (Delsin Akom), Alex Brown, PENALTY GOAL, 87 MINUTES, Ryan Smith, Darrian Furlong, (Max Ryan), Lawrie Marsh, Alex Marsh, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Callum Stead, Luke Brown, (Henry Snee), Rio Dasilva.
Other substitutes – Kye Tearle, Nathan Godfrey, GK, Jake Davis, Malachi Black, Steve Cawley, Sam Kelly and Lewis Barker.
BEDFORD TOWN
Alex Street, Drew Richardson, Lewis Miccio, Joe Steele, Charley Sanders, Hugh Alban-Jones, Callum Donnelly, Rene Howe, Danny Setchell, Dan Walker, Craig Mackail-Smith.
Substitutes used – Matt Harriott, Rob Sinclair, Connor Tomlinson, GOAL 54 MINUTES.
Other substitutes – Elliot Duff, GK, Josh Page.
REFEREE: Mr Jorden Gibson, assisted by Mr Robert Poole and Mr Tom Danaher.
ATTENDANCE: 279
REPORT BY PIPEMAN