Report
A home draw in the FA Cup and against opposition a division below might seem advantageous — but this competition always produces surprises and enjoys an unpredictability. It is also another Hertfordshire derby, and Hitchin are still licking their wounds following the narrow defeat to Royston, which, despite their best efforts, brought a second successive defeat in league games.
The Citizens came to Top Field with not the best of starts in their division, but there is no doubt that they were untroubled at being the nominal underdogs. It was shirt-sleeves weather and Welwyn soon had a free kick on the left that invited but did not receive a good delivery. This was to become a feature of future free kicks in this lacklustre match that at times just did not feel like a cup tie.
Hitchin’s first assault on goal brought a corner, sent in by Gouveia, looking for Wilkinson and the move ended with Gleeson having a wayward shot. However, the early minutes proved to be a little scrappy, with progress snuffed out by defences, but Cotter was able to thread a shot of indifferent quality.
Charlie Crowley, in the Welwyn goal did well to defend a real chance from Hitchin who were beginning to utilise space. A home free kick provided another chance, but an offside was the end of that. There was another chance, coming wide on the right and Gouveia was able to pick out Cotter whose shot was weak. Cotter’s obliging cross found Idiakhoa who was unable to control the ball the maximise his chance.Then the Citizens struck after twenty-five minutes when Dernell Wynter put his side ahead with a superb finish. It was against the run of play but that often counts for little.
There is no doubt that Henry Jones, set free on goal ought to have made it 2–0 but he struck the ball wastefully wide, but the clear warnings were there. Gouveia’s incursion into the box looked promising but Cowley was alert to the situation. Wilkinson’s next effort was wide, and we still looked for some proper rhythm from Hitchin.
Horlock deflected Wynter’s effort for a corner, which provided some counter play from Hitchin, but the Welwyn defence was surefooted. Gouveia energetically tried to make his way through, winning a corner and Cowley palmed away his firm shot. It was not pleasing that in forty minutes of play Hitchin looked mediocre and the prospect of an equaliser before the interval looked increasingly remote.
Indeed, it proved an unsatisfactory half for a somnolent home side who went to the interval trailing by that opportunistic strike. There were no half time substitutions and there was work to be done and soon.
It continued to be haphazard and offside was the result of a promising foray by Hitchin, facing patient but effective defending. The hopeful long ball was not helping. Tearle forced a corner after a spirited run but still there was no way through. Idiakhoa’s dive brought him a yellow card for simulation, and it seemed to underline the hosts’ frustration.there Bell combined with Gleeson and the equaliser came` from the reliable Bradley Bell. It raised the temperature a little and soon after,Cowley did well to palm a shot away for a corner, defended well by the Citizens.
Wilkinson’s shot brought a corner and at last there was reason to believe that the improvement in play might allow the hosts to get their noses in front. Galliford came on for Gleeson to add punch to the attack and Cotter fired wide. Bell’s cross enable Eadie to try a header, but it was wide of the target.
Idiakhoa’ attempt was blocked by Cowley, who was coping well under pressure, and he was glad to see Wilkinson balloon his latest chance. Wilkinson held the ball up well from a threaded forward move and his pass provided Idiakhoa a successful strike and at last Hitchin looked alive and very nearly well. It was a smart move that came off well, compensating for some frustrating earlier attempts. Bell and Eadie had both been notable.
The visitors made a couple of substitutions and they had lost some of their composure on the ball. Idiakhoa’s pass to Cotter demanded a better finish, but there was another corner which Cowley palmed away. Bell’s good work saw Wilkinson denied just as he was about to strike, and a further goal looked more necessary than desirable.
Jones won a free kick for the visitors in a promising central position, with Kessel trying his luck, filled by a defensive deflection and then a header that cleared the bar. Lewis Barker came on just as it was announced that there would be a minimum of seven minutes to play, and I wondered where the half had gone. Undoubtedly the Hitchin performance had improved but it was still a little prosaic. By way of contrast, the Citizens became less effective in the second period where they failed to match the quality of play they had instilled, particularly in defence.
They tried to press but could not salvage the game. Then Cotter combined with Bell for another spurned chance. Galliford won a corner as time was eating away and the the emphatic win the club also badly needs was sadly lacking. That potential awaits fulfilment.
But the game was won, and it bore a similarity to all our wins so far this season, where we did just enough to win, but it has been very close, almost too close for comfort.
The game lacked vitality for me, and it might just be in a workmanlike bracket, and we still wait for the team to impose itself with greater authority. But at least we are in the hat for Monday’s draw and once that has been settled we have two home games in three days – where we will welcome both Redditch United and Nuneaton Borough and we earnestly hope that our league form may take a turn for the better.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, this reporter’s Man of the Match, GOAL, (1-1), 58 MINUTES, Layne Eadie, cautioned, Toby Syme, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, Kye Tearle, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, (Stan Georgiou), Stephen Gleeson, (Isaac Galliford), Daniel Idiakhoa, GOAL, 72 MINUTES, (2-1), cautioned, (Lewis Barker), Kavan Cotter, Finley Wilkinson.
Other substitutes- George Devine, Josh Mollison, GK, Daniel Emovon, Keyarn Cope-Chase.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Charlie Cowley, Zak Brown, Alex Harris, James Kaloczi, Josh Steele, Yasmin Boodhoo, Dernell Wynter, GOAL, 27 MINUTES, (0-1), James Mulley, captain, (Zak Guerfi, cautioned), Brad Watkins, cautioned, Henry Jones, Josh Bryant, (Ethan Kessel).
Other substitutes- Freddie Brown, Donnabhan Green, Adam Pollock, Bailey Stevenson, Marc Weatherstone.
Referee- Mr Daniel Maldon, assisted by Mr Andrew Wheaton and Mr Chad Greatorex.
Attendance 540.
REPORT BY PIPEMAN