Report
It always amuses me when acquaintances of mine express surprise that the FA Cup is contested from August onwards from an extra preliminary round, which some find strangely inconceivable. Many only take an interest when the Big Boys enter in the Third Round Proper and the prize money escalates accordingly. Today’s stage is a long way from such a round but to reach the third qualifying round would please any club at our level.
For the clubs engaged today it is a chance to earn a decent sum which could be improved on if successful in the next round. A heroic run in the FA Cup could see any stadium benefit from needed repairs or refurbishment and now, sensibly, the losing club gets a share of the prize money which does provide some consolation, before they can once again ‘concentrate on the league’.
Our visitors from Suffolk have crossed swords with us before, but just twice. We have met in the Southern League in 2009/10 and Hitchin won both games. As often happens, a team that one meets in the FA Cup return to the venue in the league and AFC Sudbury will be at Top Field on Monday 2 October. Sudbury, of course are new to our division, following their promotion last season.
In fine weather the tie began, and a Hitchin corner provided the first opportunity, and it resulted in a nonchalant flick wide by Toby Syme. That’s all right, I thought, the lads are just limbering up. So were Sudbury whose first two attacks contained some neat passing before some timely intervention.
A moment of drama came when Idiakhoa took an inadvertent tumble in the area that failed to convince referee or spectators that he had been fouled. Eadie’ sensible cross was met by the lurking Idiakhoa whose control let him down on this occasion. Gleeson’s free kick saw a goal attempt that was nervously ushered away. It did seem that Hitchin were edging closer to a vital goal.
Bell had a fair shot that was held by Bradbrook. Sudbury’s Bello was looking like a tricky customer with some good build up play. Then an incursion saw Bell establish the lead with twenty-two minutes on the clock. Sudbury reacted with a free kick from the left and Horlock had to get low soothe our worries. His counterpart proved the busier but showed consistent skill.
Idiakhoa combined with Wilkinson, but Bradbrook was grateful for a deflection, but Hitchin were pressing for a second. The visitors looked a little frail in defence and had to cope with some nervous moments. Hitchin’s free kick wide on the left saw Gleeson pump one in but it was palmed away by the keeper. A home corner followed and so did the offside flag.
The pressure continued but the score not added to as we reached the interval, with just a few minutes added, with Eadie cautioned and a late corner came for the Suffolk side. A good cross was ruled out for an infringement, and of course there was the usual speculation about a solitary goal being fragile. But Hitchin had played sensible and settled football and deserved their lead overall.
It seemed inconceivable that the visitors would continue to be subdued and highly probable that the somewhat flat half would be replaced by some exciting moments. If the surging forward play that characterised the home win over Nuneaton could be effectively reproduced it would ensure a place in the draw for the next round. It was generally expected that Sudbury would shed their somewhat subdued play and be a real match for their hosts.
Hitchin began with good intent. Hunter managed a shot on target but could not manage any firmness. The game was opening up however, and a bad defensive pass saw a threatening Hitchin move snuffed out by untidy defending and a routine appeal for a penalty.
At this time Emovon replaced the diligent Eadie. Hitchin had a free kick wide on the right, sent in by Gleeson and resulted in a header straight at the keeper. Constructive ideas from Sudbury were oddly lacking at this point, and some frustration was in evidence. Bell provided a chance for Tearle but again the keeper was well placed.
The small knot of travelling supporters behind the goal did their best to rally their team and they made a substitution when Bello was replaced by Dunne and Barker in replaced Cotter for the hosts. Bareck had a wayward shot and had a chance for a better final pass in his next individual moment. Sudbury were having a fair spell but at times outwitted themselves.
Tearle’s header was tipped over for a corner and Georgiou’s blocked shot brought another, with Barker’s effort nestling on top of the net. A frustrated Bareck received a caution and Syme’s tackle on Neal was vital, conceding a corner that was adequately defended.
Another goal seemed to both desirable and necessary as the situation was becoming a bit fraught with petty disputes. Free kicks were conceded with unwanted generosity and Hunter with one of these put in a cross that saw Horlock hold well, and Bell, with a chance, tried to find the bottom corner but the ball went wide.
The same battling Bell, ubiquitous in recent performances won another corner in sly fashion but again Bradbrook was secure. Idiakhoa, with some fine play was able to pick out Wilkinson whose conversion was emphatic and ought to have signalled a degree of comfort. If anything, the ease of that second goal further exposed the fragility of the Sudbury defence.
Routine possession play from Hitchin suggested that the addition of five minutes would not see a dramatic response from Sudbury who had lacked real effectiveness and indeed they conceded a penalty in stoppage time following an awkward challenge by Charlie Lewis. Wilkinson was the taker and the heroic Bradbrook could keep it out.
So, a second successive win by a three-goal margin and a clean sheet as well. It was not as exhilarating as the win over Nuneaton, but I suspect that home supporters are well pleased, with six goals in two games and none conceded.
With our strange run of consecutive home games, there was the obvious question of how we would fare in the draw and whether it would again be at Top Field.
Sudbury players acknowledged their supporters in the stand who ensured their team received dignified applause. Both teams meet again in the league match very soon.
One feature of the game was the inordinate number of cautions, four for Hitchin – and ‘soft’ as one or two may seem it is clear that the new FA directives for referees are uncompromising and some players are struggling to adapt.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, GOAL, 22 MINUTES, (1-0) Layne Eadie, cautioned, (Dan Emovon), Toby Syme, Sponsors’ man of the match, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, Stan Georgiou, Kye Tearle, Steve Gleeson, Daniel Idiakhoa, cautioned, Kavan Cotter, (Lewis Barker – cautioned), Finlay Wilkinson, GOAL, 83 MINUTES, (2-0), PENALTY GOAL, 90 MINUTES, (3-0).
Substitutes not used – Josh Mollison, GK, Jack Snelus, Isaac Galliford, Chris Khoi and Henry Silver.
AFC SUDBURY
James Bradbrook, opposition star man, Oliver Cawley-Brown, Reiss Oteng, cautioned, (Andre Edinhon Silvera), Josh Okpolokpo, Charlie Lewis, Thomas Dickens, Olu Oluwatimilchin, (Jamie Bennett), Ben Hunter, captain, Joe Neal, Samson Bello,( Romario Dunne), cautioned, Michael Bareck, cautioned.
Substitutes not used – George Whitehall, GK, Daniel Cousins, Joe Tarpey, Jamie Eveleigh.
Referee – Mr Eliot Spencer, assisted by Mr Dani Mansour and Mr Robert Poole.
Attendance 449.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN