Report
Hitchin, after a somewhat disappointing start to the league campaign, found themselves pitched against their Hertfordshire neighbours Berkhamsted, who were relegated from the Premier Central Division last season, and are reportedly setting themselves up for an immediate return. They have made a flying start with four straight wins in as many matches.
The last time the clubs met in the FA cup was in 1987, which is a little surprising, since the draw is regionalised in these early stages. That 1987 tie went in favour of Berko who won 3-1 with the lone strike for Hitchin coming from Mick Every. Today had an odd feeling about it, and this was underlined by one or two supporters who said that, because of Hitchin’s awful start in the league and the calibre of the opposition, and their one hundred percent record so far, we, the nominal senior team, could well be considered underdogs. With it being the FA Cup, nothing was certain. I must confess to some misgivings beforehand, and these proved to be well grounded.
We began with an attempt at an attack on the left from Hitchin that petered out and then, a little later, there was an unsavoury incident with Lewis Barker and Luke Andrews reprimanded for what I see as ungentlemanly conduct. It was sensible refereeing to avoid early cautions. Then Barker was booked for a subsequent act and the resultant Berko free kick was almost put away by McLelland.
At the other end Titchmarsh latched onto a low cross but was well off target. It was fiercely competitive as one would expect. Jones sent in an inviting cross that was defended well but Hitchin kept the attack alive, and Bowler held a somewhat awkward defensive back header. A Hitchin fee kick saw Sears put in two crosses to no avail, following Forster’s probing free kick. A quarter of an hour had transpired, and Hitchin appeared to be edging it, but were a little imprecise in passing.
In a breakaway, Andrews won a corner for the Comrades which was also imprecise, and the impetus was once more with Hitchin who made a substitution with Franklin replacing Barker. Bateman had a chance with a long through ball, but his shot was weak. Watkins was fouled on the edge of the area and there was a caution for Syme. But we soon discovered that it was not the edge of the area but within it and indeed a penalty which was converted well by Jonathan Lacey. We were now at the twenty-five-minute mark and the concession of that spot kick was a serious blow to the Canaries, making their task more onerous.
The hosts fought back immediately and won a corner, held well by Bowler. There was good work by Hall, but he lost possession at the crucial moment and then a counter move from Berko saw good defending from Hitchin, who still looked lightweight up front. A good chance for a counter move was wrecked by poor passing. Brooks won a free kick to ironic cheers, but Dreyer’s kick drifted out for a goal kick.
Another free kick for the hosts, again taken by Dreyer saw a mediocre and unsuccessful attempt. Then Dreyer had a fine shot, well saved by Bowler, and then in a breakaway attack credit goes to James for his persistence and a smart finish which doubled his team’s advantage in the thirty-eighth minute. Credit goes to Berko for the swiftness of their opportunistic breaks and now Hitchin were now much closer to ‘concentrating on the league’ and a sixth successive defeat.
By now it was Berko who looked like the Senior placed team, and they were finishing the half strongly. A fierce shot saw Forster forced to concede a corner, which saw a blocked shot by Bateman. Home supporters were doing their best to encourage their beleaguered team even though it must be conceded that it was the Comrades who had made the most of their opportunities. Dreyer’s corner right at the end of the half was of negligible impact. Needless to say, thoughts in the interval from home supporters must have been somewhat gloomy.
The second period began with Forster holding an early shot, and a Jones free kick for Hitchin was routinely beaten away. The atmosphere was somnolent. A corner from the visitors struck the side netting. Brooks won a free kick in a promising position and Dreyer faced a four-man wall but there was a bit of hopeful commotion in the area with Brooks winning a corner, which found Sears who headed wide. There was still no real goal effort from Hitchin.
Franklin’s cross had been easily intercepted and this led to a counter from the Comrades. Vincent replaced the ineffective Hall and Berko replaced James with Thorpe. At this stage, the visitors were comfortable with their deserved lead, which saw a chance of being reduced when Hitchin gained a free kick, right on the ‘D’. The taker was Jones, who was a whisker wide. More of this was needed from open play, but it continued to be denied them.
Morrall put a header well wide and then Gleeson came on for Dreyer with about half an hour to go. For the Comrades, Collier came on for Lacey. A following Hitchin attack saw the home side appeal for at least a free kick, but it was rightfully dismissed. A low cross saw Watkins have a pop, but it lacked volition if not direction.
Play from both sides was lacking overall quality and there was a feeling that Brooks could have done better with the chance supplied him by Morrall. Vincent, with his optimistic hook towards goal seemed to sum things up, as hope exceeded expectation. It seemed a long time ago that Hitchin were more or less dominating proceedings.
Watkins departed, replaced by Frederick with about a quarter of an hour to go. Significantly, there was no time wasting from Berko as they simply did not need this bit of gamesmanship, as there was little to be feared from their opponents. Gleeson’s free kick was predictably defended and there followed an over-elaborate attack which involved a number of back passes.
Then, in a sad moment for me, Kye Tearle came on as a substitute for Berko. I was very surprised that a player of his calibre, a real Hitchin boy as well, was released at the end of last season. Brooks tried an overhead in a token Hitchin attack and a goal seemed as unlikely as ever in this sixth defeat in six games. Berko were cruising to a fifth successive victory. Collier tried to make it three with a well-placed shot, but Forster held. Following this, Brooks shot wide at the other end.
A late corner for Berko was wasted and a free kick for Hitchin received the same fate. Wilson, jiggling with the ball in the box passed to Jones who put the ball out of play. Another hopeful Hitchin attack was easily deconstructed, but a free kick from Jones gave hope of a compensation. Then a late save from Bowler concluded proceedings.
Again, we can have no grounds for complaint as the better team won, a team in a division below, yet in real terms a team that had little difficulty in containing their nominally senior opponents. Had we not been granted the reprieve I feel that although we may not have been struggling, we would have found it something of a challenge to be a mid table team.
Now we are ‘concentrating on the league,’ we will indeed discover if the team selected is up to the task. A win or two would make all the difference but a rise in our position provides the severest of challenges.
HITCHIN TOWN
Kyle Forster, Toby Syme, cautioned, Ciaren Jones, Harry Titchmarsh, Dan Sears, Lewis Barker, cautioned, (Lewis Franklin), George Morrall, sponsors’ home man of the match, Jack Dreyer, (Stephen Gleeson, cautioned), Coree Wilson, Albie Hall, (Connor Vincent, replaced by Jay Rolfe). Substitutes not used- Rio Deall and Josh Keane.
BERKHAMSTED
Joshua Bowler, Jack Tompkins, Simeon Olarerin, Ross Oulton, (Kye Tearle), Samuel McClelland, Daniel Newton, Roger James, GOAL, 38 minutes, 0-2, (Lewis Thorpe), Adam Watkins, (Jordan Frederick), Matthew Bateman, captain, Luke Andrews, this reporter’s man of the match, (Connor Toomey), Jonathan Lacey, PENALTY GOAL, 24 minutes, 0-1, (Louie Collier).Substitutes not used – Joshua Chamberlain, Matthew Burch, GK.
Referee- Mr R Murphy, who had a good game, ably assisted by Mr R Graves and Mr J Badcock.
Attendance 427
REPORT BY PIPEMAN