Report
As a Bedfordshire man I was especially pleased that Leighton Town achieved promotion back to the Southern League, and also because their manager at the time was my former pupil Lee Bircham, who has, I believe, moved on to manage Bedford Town.
The visit to Bell Close, always a friendly venue, saw a mixed squad from the Hertfordshire side who had to endure a lengthy spell with ten men against League One side Stevenage, and to say it was a thorough work out is an understatement. Previous to that they coped well with a spirited and youthful Luton Town side.
Being nominally the senior team, Hitchin again faced a concerted effort from the hosts, and I hoped the game would be as entertaining as when the clubs last met under these circumstances. It was entertaining but the result was rather the wrong way round from a Hitchin point of view.
Hitchin, as I have said, brought a sizeable squad with what seemed an inordinate number of substitutes but entirely understandable. After commencement at the earlier time of seven thirty, the first minute saw a Hitchin corner and a blocked shot from Jack Snelus. Lewis Barker made a welcome return and was soon involved just as Diogo Freitas Gouveia was injured. Bradley Bell’s free kick led to a further Hitchin corner.
There was a wild shot from Leighton’s Luke Pyeman, representing their first effort on goal, and Layne Eadie was just as wild and wide at the other end.
Bradley Bell’s cross in front of goal was beaten out but Hitchin were clicking into an attack rhythm now, with fifteen minutes played.
Freitas Gouveia was evidently in some distress and was substituted at a somewhat leisurely pace with a player replacing him, whose name was a mystery to all I asked. Apologies. Just after this we saw a snap shot from Snelus that was just inches away from being the opening goal.
Then it was Leighton’s chance and Jack Sayle might have done better had he not tried to walk the ball into the goal Arsenal style. It was an interesting move, though. A good cross from Charlie Patterson resulted in a penalty award to Leighton and successfully converted by Sayle after thirty – five minutes. It was a little against the run of play and the penalty award was bizarre to some. The spot kick had been conceded by Stan Georgiou who has had a week that will not be his most cherished memory. Just after this Leighton came close with the shot hitting the post. There was nothing bizarre about Leighton’s second goal which was a peach of a header from Finlay Brennan. So, two goals in three minutes and a score line that was unexpected. Bell’s free kick needed a careful save from the keeper
Hitchin reduced the arrears after forty minutes when substitute, whose name eludes me finished emphatically from close range. Then, in what seemed moments later a third goal was scored by the hosts, a minute or so before half -time and it was scored by Alfie Hall.
Bell’s diving header from an Eadie cross was wide and this game was becoming very generous in terms of entertainment value. Bell’s involvement seemed colossal along the right flank. The last bit of action was an unsuccessful shot from Charlie Miller.
Just as I was emerging from the clubhouse for the second half, I noticed that not only had the game restarted but the hosts had added an immediate fourth goal, and minutes later came close to a fifth. Hitchin had made numerous substitutions and Leighton did likewise a few minutes into the half.
Curiously at this stage the play became a little inelegant and even scrappy. There was a Hitchin free kick from the left that was over hit and was the first effort on goal so far in this second period. More home substitutes took place, including the goalkeeper. Leighton seemed to be running the show but Hitchin, although not devoid of ideas seemed to place the vital pass too short or it was easily intercepted.
There was one flowing move that saw a lofty cross find no-one in a suitable place and we still waited for these experimental Canaries to place a shot on target. The best so far was a strike from range that hit the clubhouse roof. Good play from a Hitchin substitute with no number on his shirt won a corner. There were twenty minutes to go. The corner resulted in an effort that cleared the bar by an embarrassing number of yards.
A final Hitchin substitute was made, a tall chap with no number. This always happens in pre- season games, and is a challenge to report when accuracy is never guaranteed. Another Hitchin corner sailed in with a bit of a goalmouth scramble ensuing but the hosts cleared eventually.
There was a header from close range that Horlock held and at the other end a blocked shot for the visitors. At the other end a home substitute tried to chip Horlock but the ball bounced harmlessly wide. He ought to have scored, given the time he had.
A late effort from Leighton saw another header way over the bar and a Hitchin free kick from the right provided an easy catch for the substitute goalkeeper. That was the final piece of action in a defeat not entirely expected but one that cannot be moaned about. In point of fact The allegedly stronger starting eleven it was that conceded three first half goal and the predominantly trialist second half team battled hard and conceded just the very early goal.
I spoke to Steve Gleeson who claims that the third Leighton goal was an own goal by Lewis Barker and he insisted that I mentioned it and it was also claimed that our one goal had a suspicion of an own goal. I am not entirely sure but I do know that pre-season games can have contrasting and unexpected results as managers rearrange their teams and have a good look at the hopefuls. Of our second string I liked the look of Jeremiah Lewerco but have probably spelt his name incorrectly.
Leighton Town looked strong up front after the first half hour where Hitchin looked the stronger, but the hosts deserved their win and of course we wish them well in their campaign following their deserved and impressive promotion to the Southern League, Division one central where they will enjoy a number of derby type games.
Hitchin travel to Stotfold next Tuesday, which will be something of a test, as the hosts were the second team promoted from the Spartan Premier Division to our league.
LEIGHTON TOWN
Karl Daley, Ethan Flanagan, Olly Blackmore-Read, Seb Simpson, James Sage, Charlie Pattison, Luke Pyeman, Jake Watkinson, Alfie Hall, Finlay Brennan, Alfie Powell.
Substitutes – Jim Burnside, Nathan Olukanmi, Lee Cooksey, Louie Barrett, Josh Hatton, Jack Sayle, Elliott Kefford, Harvey Heeps GK.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Bradley Bell, Layne Eadie, Trialist A, Stan Georgiou, Lewis Barker, Diogo Freitas Gouveia, Steve Gleeson, Jack Snelus, Charlie Miller, George Devine.
Substitutes – Marley Stein, Josh Mollison, GK, Trialist B, Jack Trickett, Aaron Jennings, Jeremiah Lewerco, Chris Khoi, Henry Silver, Frankie Webster, Crounder Bains.
Apologies for any errors.
Referee Mr Chris O’Donnell, with two assistants whose details were unavailable.
Attendance 330
REPORT BY PIPEMAN