Report
Supporters are relatively apathetic when it comes to domestic cup competitions, and many choose to take the night off. I always make the point that any player selected to play will want to do his best and help his team to win. It also gives the managers opportunities to have a more prolonged look at fringe players or new signings.
Near-neighbours Baldock are currently members of the Spartan Premier League, which promotes to our division. They hold eleventh position. Tonight’s game was the first round of the Hertfordshire Senior Cup.
Baldock kicked off and booted the ball straight into touch for a goal kick. This is a somewhat bizarre tactic. A free kick from the visitors went straight to the keeper and a persistent Alemanji tried a shot that cleared the bar. His next effort saw a goal line clearance. Kane’s eagerness saw a good shot that brought an equally good save from Tulomba.
Baldock long balls were proving to be too speculative and Kingham on a run found himself outnumbered. There was a Baldock free kick, wide on the left which was defended routinely. A Hitchin counter saw Alemanji fire wide. Then Morrall sent Alemanji on another forward charge, but it lacked substance, but we had the feeling that one of these forays would be successful.
Aerially, Hitchin were proving to be superior, but their next attack from midfield lacked quality. Then almost out of nothing there was a cross from Kingham that was met with a lacklustre shot. It could have brought a goal, and no one from Baldock would care that it was against the run of play. The cross from Odegah was inviting but met no meaningful connection.
For half an hour, Baldock had held their own and battled well. This was a good spell for them despite their aerial insignificance. Kassaye launched a hopeful ball into the area, met, as it always was with a Hitchin head. But they foiled a would-be elaborate attack from Hitchin.
The decent spell continued with a shot from Darr, which actually led to a Hitchin counter that needed monitoring. We expected more from Hitchin. Gleeson took this and it quite good but nobly defended. However, the next foray saw Blue Joy complete a move by heading his first goal for Hitchin. It was timed at thirty-four minutes.
The good spell from the visitors had subsided and Hitchin pressed forward and there was a delightful second goal, scored by Mbunya Alemanji who saw the space at the far post.
This one came at thirty-nine minutes. However, Kingham received a peach of a cross that should have brought a goal. But he had rush of blood and inexplicably sent it wide. Alemanji bustled won a challenge and felt he could have been granted the advantage. The referee brought play back and the free kick came to nothing. We were nearing the interval, and I expected substitutions. McDonald ought to have provided a better pass for an Alemanji chance.
This player had another opportunity right at the start of the second half, but Tulomba saved well. The corner was negligible, but Baldock forced one and then another where Farmer ought to have scored instead of sending the ball embarrassingly over the bar. Alemanji was still proving to be a handful, and he is not allowed such freedom in the Southern League.
A long throw from Baldock saw an attempt at an overhead kick that did not work. McDonald received a caution for a too high boot, but the player writhing on the turf, Farmer, did have his head low. Hitchin had seemed to abandon their pretty play, and few long balls could be worth chasing. Monaghan thought that a shot from range might surprise, and it almost did. Then a compensatory goal attempt nearly brought another surprise, but a clearance was in place.
Bonfield went down and his treatment permitted a strategic talk from both managers. It would have been good to see the rhythm of the game restored. The pace seemed pedestrian.
The employment of substitutions perhaps had a view to some improvement. Tearle, Nicolson and Butler came on. Nicolson took a corner, and the third goal was eased in by Toby Syme. This was becoming more of a form result. Fittingly and Muskett came on and I will resist the puns as I expect he has heard them all.
A Baldock free kick ran harmlessly into touch. Then we had a surprise when new signing or rather a re- signing of Diogo Freitas- Gouveia, saw this player come on. He had an unfortunate spell at the club when his activity was spoiled by injury. Ironically play was now stopped for injuries. Then Hitchin replaced Alemanji with Brooks.
An attack that saw Brooks try to break free saw a fall to earth but no favourable decision. Morrall’s sprightly play led to a decent low cross and Freitas- Gouveia tapped in the fourth goal after eighty- two minutes.
Then there was a graceful fifth goal headed in accurately by Cole Butler. It was harsh on the gallant Baldock who had racked up a number of chances without reward. It was just as well for them that an inevitable looking sixth glided just out of danger.
A late penalty appeal for Hitchin was sportingly dismissed, which is my way of saying I have seen them given. Then in stoppage time there was a compensatory goal for Baldock, scored by Rhys Monaghan. So, it finished five one and it had good elements of entertainment.
Hitchin Town
Bonfield
Jackman (C)
Kane
Joy – GOAL, 34 mins
Briggs
Syme – GOAL, 68 mins
Bell-Toxtle
Gleeson
Alemanji – GOAL, 39 mins – Reporters MOTM
Morrall
McDonald
Substitutes:
Tearle (for Jackman)
Freitas-Gouveia (for Bell-Toxtle) – GOAL, 82 mins
Nicolson (for Gleeson)
Brooks (for Alemanji)
Butler (for McDonald) – GOAL, 85 mins
Baldock Town
Tulomba
Darr
Onions
Steele
Thomas
Farmer (C)
Kingham
Monaghan – GOAL, 90 mins
Odegah
Kassaye
Pors-Fazakerley
Substitutes:
Muskett (for Darr)
Abadom (for Kingham)
Fitton (for Odegah)
Johnson, Stanley and Watkins were unused.
Referee: Mr N Reece, assisted by Mr N Angus and Mr T Evans
Attendance: 239
Report by Pipeman
Photos by Peter Else