Report
There was a degree of anticipation about the return visit of the Suffolk side after they had come to Top Field and tidied up nicely with a workmanlike performance that ended our hoped for progress in the FA Trophy. Some I had spoken to grudgingly conceded that elimination as long as we could steal three desperately needed points in a League encounter . This was achieved in a satisfying manner in an exciting game that saw Hitchin move up a single place albeit on goal difference.
The performance at Biggleswade was satisfying to a degree but we felt like the bather refreshing himself with a swim only to find that our clothes had been sequestered. A solitary point might have seemed like a moral victory but the simple fact was that two points were dropped and it was something we could could not afford.
Solid play was good to see but the absence of goals was not. The team cannot be faulted for effort And the presence of experienced players such as skipper Dan Webb and the salutary signing of Stephen Gleeson and the return of Luke Barker demonstrated that the young guns benefited from the steadying presence of influential older hands.
In our situation, an honourable draw is not that distant from a defeat, but we took it on Saturday and no doubt we saw it as a springboard to improved achievement. The Hitchin team selected was the same starting eleven, and the substitutes’ bench listed Jack Green and new signing Jordan Kinoshi.Both of these came on later in the game.
From the outset there was an urgency about Hitchin, with an initial foray bringing a cross from Marsh that won a corner. This sailed in and Moloney was a couple of inches away from a meaningful connection. Dasilva combined with Marsh, and with a free kick won, Gleeson pumped it in but there was an infringement.
Leiston were keen to het the ball out of there half after this frantic start and once again they showed positive counter moves along the left, with Hunter’s final pass being too heavy. Hitchin continued to hurl themselves into meaningful forward play and an excellent assistance from the left saw Maloney in an excellent scoring position and he did not disappoint, and a goal that we could not seem to buy, rent or get on hire purchase was there.
Nine minutes had been played and the hosts were in the lead with confidence tangible. Local churches responded with a clanging of bells. Well, all right, I made that bit up, but it felt like it. It is often said that a goal to the good too early was perhaps something flattering to deceive, and indeed Leiston responded with some urgency. They again pushed up along the left and Marsh defended the cross; then at the other end Dasilva’s half volley was too high.
A Hitchin free-kick, wide on the left from Brown saw a cunning through ball from Dasilva to Stead who was well placed but shot weakly at Donkin. Seemingly aggrieved Leiston attacked again and Horlock had to stretch to tip a fine shot over the bar for a corner, and the magnificently named Oluwasijuola Odelusi, tall in the saddle, headed just over the bar. I think I heard that he is called Sid for convenience. He was nominally a centre half tonight, and in the last match against us he was in a striker’s role.
Moloney latched onto a good pass but was caught off-side. Leiston were getting more of the ball, switched play with a good cross from Eagle and Hunter was wide with his effort. Akubuine was again notable and a fine cross from him towards Stead needed careful defending. Eagle was again in on the hunt, with Gleeson thwarting his chance. Hitchin had two successive corners, and in a counter move Mills’ shot was deflected for a corner.
Then, with a long clearance aimed for Stead, Odelusi may have towered above him but he lost possession and Stead finished superbly to make it 2-0 and Stead’s celebration was one of relief. This goal came after thirty-seven minutes and, as often happens, a goal was conceded almost immediately. There was a bit of excitement that we did not want as a little bit of complacency at having secured a two goal cushion was put into perspective as Leiston instigated an immediate charge and Finlay Barnes made it 2-1.
It put some fire in their bellies as, following a half-chance for Stead, a fierce goal attempt from Leiston needed to be cleared off the line by man of the match Ciaren Jones, set up by playmaker Eagle. It was as if the initiative had swung dramatically and we needed the relief of Dasilva’s combination with Stead and a shot over the bar was the last action of a pulsating half.
It was finely poised, since we knew from Leiston’s victory over Hitchin in the FA Trophy was well constructed and they are a strong and disciplined team.It was imperative that full attention to duty was not neglected in the second half.It was generally expected that the visitors would seek to impose themselves and for a few minutes they did, but Hitchin defended stoutly and were indeed quick to counter. Dunbar’s spirited run in possession was halted and Marsh’s diagonal pass was just too close to the keeper. Then, after a fine assistance from Dasilva on the left, he set up Moloney, whose finish was outstanding, finding the top right corner to restore the two goal advantage, after fifty-one minutes. He may be on loan but he still celebrated with encouraging gestures to the supporters behind the goal. Stating the obvious, his position up front has paid good dividends.
There is no doubt that this goal rattled Leiston a little as they had indeed given out vibes that they could have snatched an equaliser, and although they went on to create significant chances I felt this was the moment that they looked done for and that Hitchin would avenge that Trophy defeat and win their first game in eleven or is it twelve attempts? So far it was our best score of the season.
Happily Hitchin did not relent and in one telling through ball to Stead, goalkeeper Donkin came off his line at some pace to send the ball into the Shell garage across the road. Marsh’s shot on the turn was held by this keeper, whose every error, however slight, received the usual home jeers.
It was not yet time to swagger, though. Switter’s cross from the right needed Horlock’s full attention and the following corner brought some nervous moments. Then a combination involving Moloney and Stead needed monitoring, crosses from Marsh and Akubuine brought a fair header from Barker.
At important moments Hitchin defended well and broke away with good distribution. Stead received a caution for a challenge on the keeper would have, in days of yore been largely ignored. Stead was then involved in a lovely piece of play in a Hitchin attack. In possession he fooled the defender to think he would play forward but a peach of a reverse pass to Barker saw the latter make it a surely unassailable 4-1. This came with twenty minutes remaining and, yes, this was the highest number of goals scored by Hitchin in one game all season.
Even so, the Suffolk side gamely tried to make the score look more respectable from their point of view, but there was a vim and vigour about Hitchin and there were appreciative smiles on the terraces.Odelusi had a shot saved by Horlock, who was actually booked for time-wasting – not that he needed to. But banging your boots on the foot of the post and taking a leisurely swig from his water bottle before a goal-kick was too much for the referee, who, incidentally, had a fine game. A low cross from Leiston substitute Ocran saw Horlock down low to save. A through ball to stead saw Donkin do the same and, late in the game, new signing Kinoshi came on but it was too late for him to make any kind of impression. I was not the only one to notice his exotic hair-do.
A late corner from Leiston brought, eventually a shot from range from Eagle but it was wide and soon after the whistle went and Hitchin players were keen to acknowledge their supporters who have kept the faith and now have good reason to believe. Yes, one swallow doth not a summer make, but by any standards this was an exuberant performance against a side of proven worth.
Putting things into perspective, this is another corner turned, and the blend of experience and relative youth in the team is a good one . We were due to travel to Rushall Olympic on Saturday next but the Staffordshire side are engaged in the FA Trophy, so our next encounter is the long away trip to Suffolk where we face Lowestoft Town on Tuesday 16 November. That will be a challenging fixture.
But tonight there were reasons to be cheerful, one two – four. And three golden points and the team and the manager deserve full credit – and so do the loyal supporters. Let us hope that this revival can be extended and the team can put some distance away from that dreaded relegation zone. If they play like they did tonight – they will.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, cautioned, Dan Akubuine, Alex Brown, Stephen Gleeson, Dan Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, sponsors’ Man of the Match, Lawrie Marsh, Lewis Barker, GOAL,70 MINUTES, Callum Stead, GOAL, 37 MINUTES, cautioned, (Jordan Kinoshi), Matthew Moloney, TWO GOALS, 9 AND 51 MINUTES, Rio Dasilva, (Jack Green).
Unused substitutes: Stanley Georgiou, Stephen Cawley and Ryan Smith.
LEISTON
Sam Donkin, Dylan Switters, (Joseph Marsden), Sebastian Dunbar, Oliver Saunders, Oluwasijuola, Robert Eagle, Finlay Barnes, GOAL,39 MINUTES, George Quantrell, William Davies, (Kai Fletcher), Ben Hunter, Adam Mills (Brendan Ocran).
Unused substitute: Jake Hutchins.
REFEREE: Mr S Parkinson, assisted by Mr S Smith and Mr M Stetakovic.
ATTENDANCE: 372
REPORT BY PIPEMAN