Report
Again, the Hitchin late late show brought a replay. Against Grays Athletic they were seconds from defeat when the deserved equaliser came, sending us to Tilbury for the replay and a nervous single goal win was the result.
At Parkfield, Potters Bar were cruising 2-0 at the interval. They even had a penalty, and we all thought that at 3-0 the Canaries involvement in the competition was over. But Alfie Bonfield made a notable save and after pulling a goal back, Hitchin went for it, clawing a goal back and the reward coming with that last gasp equaliser, after a prolonged siege on the hosts’ goal.
There were those who cited our recent record at home, which is far from commanding; but this is the FA Cup, and sometimes the scripts collide. Of some concern was the absence through injury of Mbunya Alemanji who has impressed so far.
There were other changes for Hitchin, with Coldicott-Stevens and George Morrall starting. Potters Bar were unchanged, barring their strip, which tonight was sky blue.
The first few minutes were of an exploratory nature, with Rhiney trying in vain to reach an optimistic through ball. Payne was there again with his tantalising or tormenting long throws. A Franklin cross after good preparatory play was cleared robustly. The Scholars were being patient and cautious and were not afraid to shoot from range, even if missing generously. There was a penalty shout for Hitchin that was dismissed, and a central free kick kept the pressure, but JCS was yards off target. Rhiney looked isolated up front but there were definite possibilities along the right flank for Hitchin, with Franklin the ever-willing combatant, and not forgetting Kane on the opposite flank.
Hitchin maintained pressure which the visitors were coping with relatively comfortably. They won a cheap corner following some dithering in the Hitchin defence. This was defended, and the next Hitchin attack saw Tearle shoot but not with full force. Aerially the visitors seemed to have an edge, dealing competently with the crosses or the looped through balls.
Burbridge went down injured to care from his physio and predictable jeers from some home supporters, and so there was a water break. it was important that Hitchin maintained both pace and pressure. Kane jiggled on the left but was dispossessed. The Scholars, still cautious, blotted their copy book with an overzealous challenge that resulted in the dismissal of a player. I think it was Guiseppe Re, and it was in the half hour mark. It was the skipper Re. Furthermore, I was informed that the assistant reported him to the referee for stamping on a player, which Re denied. No smoke without fire? I was too far away from the incident to report accurately.
A home corner then saw Burbridge save comfortably, and I wondered if we would see one of those heroic ten men displays, as The Bar began to play better. Tearle had wormed his way through and out in a cross that was met by an opponent’s boot. Tearle’s and Briggs were unmarked, but the ball did not come their way on this occasion.
Franklin’s shot on the run was defended and brought another penalty shout, which was ignored, and a corner resulted in an inexplicably weak shot from Rhiney. Franklin was a live wire but increasingly monitored. Two additional minutes was a mean addition, given the stoppages and Rhiney’s shot was so inaccurate it caused predictable groans. No goals then, despite creditable efforts from Hitchin, and some hard-nosed defending from The Scholars.
During the interval, the consensus was that ‘there was not much in it.’ Maybe so. Ciaren Jones replaced Josh Jackman and The Bar brought on Kyei for Adams. Hitchin resumed their pressure play but still met unyielding resistance.
Then, causing great glee, Kye Tearle reprised his immaculate goal against Barton Rovers by emphatically converting his shot, after forty-nine minutes, and he ran to the terraced end to receive the accolades of supporters and also players. There was no relaxing after the celebration as Hitchin continued to hunt, and a second goal would be most welcome.
But The Scholars forced two corners that needed Bonfield to tidy up. Rhiney’s low cross saw Morrall make an almost unforgivable miss, given the position. A Potters Bar free kick saw Bonfield handle comfortably again. The visitors were trying to get forward as they needed to, being a goal adrift and this left the occasional gaps in their defence. Indeed, a defensive error gave Rhiney the chance to latch onto a loose ball, but Burbridge claimed. More substitutions followed for the visitors with Anyadike and Webb coming on for Webber and Adjei- Hersey.
Some good possession football from Hitchin was monitored well, but we thought a second goal could soothe some worries and Rhiney, who broke away tried to lob the keeper who was having none of it. Morrall’s pass to Franklin saw the latter’s shot blocked but there was a corner for the hosts. This saw Rhiney achieve the same blockage and Burbridge snuffed out any further chance. From a Payne long throw, a swift Hitchin counter move saw Morrall shoot ineffectively on the run.
There were some uncomfortable moments in the Hitchin penalty area, but Morrall won a corner following an athletic run, and this was followed by another. This led to a second goal, scored at close range in a crowded box, by Taylor Rhiney and we had played seventy-eight minutes. Billy Heaps came on for George Morrall. The home supporters looked visibly relieved, as a second goal was more or less certain to see the game to victory.
Tearle had a run and then a tumble and The Bar had a free kick taken by Payne. This led to a header over the bar and a reminder that a goal can come from the simplest of moves. Bomolo replaced Rhiney for the remaining few minutes.
In fact, it was just over five minutes as the board went up and the visitors almost snatched a goal back but had won a corner. They were being annoying with these late attacks, and for ten men they had given a good account of themselves.
Payne was not a pain with his last long throw, but I feel it will bring the Scholars goals in future games. A late corner might have been indicative but was headed away in a grim manner. Despite this late and honourable flurry, there was no consolatory goal for the visitors and when the whistle went, they approached their supporters to thank them for their efforts.
For Hitchin it was all high fives with the fans and tonight, and the reward for the team is a home tie with St Albans City, who are in the same league as Potters Bar Town, and that serves as a reminder that Hitchin’s win was over a team who play at a higher level. But over the two games the Canaries were the better team. I spoke to Ronnie Henry after the game, and he told me that The Scholars ought to have done the job on Saturday and allowed Hitchin a way back which they took with both hands. Ronnie believed Hitchin were indeed better on the night and deserved the win.
I also spoke to Kye Tearle, who was still high after his goal tonight. Naturally, he was delighted that he has scored two goals so far this season and that they were goals of immense importance. He also mentioned the great feeling he had playing in front of so many dedicated fans, what with all the replica shirts and inflatable canaries. ‘We still owe our supporters’ he said, ‘and we feel this season we will pay them back for their commitment and support.’
There were 635 at Top Field tonight and that is excellent for an evening match, and it certainly made for a splendid atmosphere. We look forward to a real bumper attendance against St Albans.
Cup action continues for the Canaries with an away tie in the FA Vase on Saturday at Biggleswade Town. As Tearle said, we owe them one for stealing a win at Top Field recently. Let us hope that the rejuvenated team can continue to succeed in both League and in cup competitions.
Hitchin Town
Bonfield
Franklin – Reporters MOTM
Kane
Syme (C)
Briggs
Jackman
Morrall
Coldicott-Stevens
Rhiney – Goal (78 mins)
Tearle – Goal (49 mins)
Nicolson
Substitutes
Jones (for Jackman)
Heaps (for Morrall)
Bomolo (for Rhiney)
McDonald (for Tearle)
Butler, Gleeson and Joy were unused
Potters Bar Town
Burbridge
Adjei- Hersey
Payne
Pedro
Doherty
Henry
Drafu
Re (C) – Sent Off (30 mins)
Adams
Webber
Hutchinson
Substitutes
Webb (for Adjei-Hersey)
Brant (for Drafu)
Kyei (for Adams)
Anyadike (for Webber)
Kwatchey, Rose, Salmon were unused
Referee: Mr N Reece, assisted by Mr E O’ Neill and Mr C Mackay.
Attendance: 635
Report by Pipeman.
Photos by Peter Else.