Report
The long trip to Lowestoft gave us time to think about Hitchin’s last two league games which have yielded four vital points. As an optimistic start I can say that the team has gone four league games without defeat but three of them are draws, including tonight’s encounter, in which it may be argued that had Alex Brown scored the penalty at the start of the second half, to make it 3-0, we would have won.
There was a good deal of drama, some scrappy play, and it may also be argued that Hitchin very nearly fell to the 3-2 score line that concluded our last visit to Crown Meadow, some three years ago. A glance at Fishponder’s statistics reveals that in half a dozen meetings with the Trawlerboys, only one Hitchin victory has been recorded.
But what an opening few minutes from the Canaries, where, astonishingly they went two goals up and it could well have been three. Launching an immediate attack the ball was scrambled away and in one minute and thirty seconds, Stead has an initial chance, where he paused too long, almost in surprise; Barker kept the attack alive, and Dasilva unleashed a shot from the left and Hitchin were one up, and home supporters consoled them selves by chanting that we were bottom of the league.
Then, just a minute later, a forward ball to Stead saw him lob the ball over the keeper and it was two goals to nil and of such stuff dreams are made. Would this be as it was in that wonderful four nil away win at Peterborough Sports a couple of season ago? Well, no, not quite, but the pace was maintained and it took some time before the hosts got properly into their stride.
Hitchin tried hard to take advantage of Lowestoft’s lethargic start and ponderous play and a third goal did, for a while look likely. Stead looked dangerous up front and Dasilva’s pace looked the business, but in one foray he lost possession just as he was advancing into the penalty area.
Lowestoft had a corner beaten away and they still struggled to get into their opponents’ half. Marsh’s ball to Stead won a free-kick just a few yards from the penalty area but this was put wastefully over the bar by Gleeson. Lowestoft found some freedom on the left flank, and a low cross to Hawkins brought a shot but also the flag for off-side.
Barker sent in a cross which was to close to the keeper. Hitchin blotted their copy book by conceding too many free kicks again and it made for some nervous defending. As expected, the hosts clawed their way back in with more urgent play and as the half progressed so their pressure increased. There was good stuff from Fleming, Smith and Hawkins and the crosses that came in needed stout defending.
The pace of the game was affected by several stoppages for injuries, the first to the Lowestoft keeper who had taken a knock. Brown’s free-kick found Dasilva and Barker’s flick was academic as the off-side was conceded. Tann switched play cleverly but nothing came of that effort. Lowestoft won another free-kick and Hawkins won a corner from it, which he took but a goal kick was the result.
More good stuff came from Lowestoft on the left but crosses were either prevented or were too heavy. Brown had a decent shot that the keeper put out for a corner, and from this Moloney headed over the bar. The next Hitchin attack was ruled off-side after some fine work on the ball. Then yet another free-kick was conceded and promptly defended, but yes, another was conceded and fired straight at Horlock.
Hitchin’s pace had been contained as Lowestoft played direct football instead of a ponderous build-up and it was effective as they applied more pressure. That may have been the case but Horlock was only called upon to make one vital save. Stead was marginally off-side following a fine forward ball. Dasilva’s cross to Stead was well defended by Cole, an important intervention.
There was then another delay, with both assistants consulted and we at the other end did not know what was happening. The answer was not much and Lowestoft applied themselves with urgency for the remainder of the half. Yes, they won more free-kicks as well.
Urgent as they were, Lowestoft were unable to capitalise, but Hitchin were forced to play deeper. The last few minutes were very scrappy with one of two incidents of confrontation through frustration. It needed the whistle for players to cool off a little, but the referee kept it going until the stoppage time had been completed, despite players snarling at one another.
Both assistants were consulted by the referee in the last minute and there was a caution for Travis Cole who, by all accounts was lucky the card was not red. After five minutes of stoppage time there was another caution for Lowestoft, after another consultation. Higgs was the offender. It was still three minutes from the whistle and I was glad when it went as players seemed to be going down all over the shop.
Taking that two goal lead to the interval imbued us with the feeling that it was not comfortable, as Hitchin’s shape had been pulled apart and they had been fortunate in some ways not to have conceded, and the onus was on them to consolidate, to defend the lead without playing too deep.
Then, in the very first minute of the second half, they were handed the chance to make the result secure. A promising opening attack led to the award of a penalty. Marsh was fouled in possession just as he was about to shoot. Alex Brown, so reliable as a penalty taker, stepped up confidently and inexplicably missed. This was the pivotal moment of the match as it seemed to lift the hosts who not only went to score two goals, they could well have won this game. Then again so could Hitchin, and there was one late moment when Stead’s momentary pause saw the would be winner fade into oblivion.
It was just so disappointing as it meant in reality the prodigal dropping of two points so desperately needed. Credit of course goes to the hosts whose persistence earned them a welcome point and they could argue that they could well have snatched victory. Hitchin held out until The fifty-first minute before Ryan Jarvis reduced the arrears and a cheer went around Crown Meadow from the majority of spectators.
Dasilva’s shot went straight at Burwood, who distinguished himself this half with some important saves. Marsh’s assistance gave Stead another opportunity and Burwood kept it out with his trailing leg. Lewis Barker had a fine chance but fine defending from Thomas Smith prevented Hitchin from increasing their lead. Brown’s mixture of a cross and a shot typified his efforts in this second half, where he repeatedly placed them too high.The next shot from Stead brought the save of the match from Burwood.
Lowestoft piled forward again and saw some efforts go wide or be ruled off side and the 2-1 lead looked increasingly fragile. And with a touch of inevitability of it, the equaliser came after sixty-eight minutes. And it was from a set piece. Hitchin had conceded a corner and this presented Fleming with a free header. This came after Lowestoft had been cursing the fact that they had missed an open goal.
For Hitchin it was disappointing, particularly as the home keeper had splendidly defended Stead’s efforts, and for the remainder of the game both teams had enough chances to win the game and it was quite frantic right up to the end, with many added minutes of stoppage time.
It was not easy for either team, as the possibility of mistakes was highly probable given the fiery nature of the finish. Lowestoft had brought on Ruffles as a substitute for Tann, and his was a useful contribution. They had also replaced Higgs with Olapido.
One promising Hitchin attack was defeated by its own ponderous elaboration. The later it became it seemed advisable to shoot on sight. Moloney had a blocked shoot and with the ball bouncing around it just need a Hitchin boot – instead it went up the other end and caused a bit of a scare.
When Hitchin conceded a corner, we were anxious and there were some close shaves. When Hitchin got the ball into the home penalty area we hoped for a clear chance, and one or two came, tantalisingly right at the end. Stead came very close and it must be mentioned that Sam Meade on an open ended loan from St Albans made his debut in the white hot patch of stoppage time and had some good touches.
Marsh appeared to be fouled on the edge of the area but the appeal was dismissed. Akubuine tried manfully to supply the telling cross and Marsh’s forward ball was too heavy. Time was running out and I am sure that Lowestoft felt the same since the situation almost screamed for a stoppage time winner.
It did not come, but neither team can be faulted for effort in this respect. More and more we recalled that penalty miss. But for that I would say that it was a fair result – yet Lowestoft deserve praise for their dogged persistence.
As I say, four successive league games without defeat is not to bear sniffed at but a glance at the league table shows us still at the bottom. We go again on Saturday- at home to Alvechurch and hope the unbeaten run can be extended and maximum points can be gained.
LOWESTOFT TOWN
Warren Burwood, Tai Fleming, GOAL,68 MINUTES, Thomas Smith, Ryan Jarvis, captain, GOAL, 51 MINUTES, Adam Tann, (Dylan Ruffles, 48), Travis Cole, cautioned, Ryan Hawkins, (Jack Wilkinson), Owen Murphy, Jake Reed, Kieran Higgs, (Destiny Oladipo, 56),Marcus Wilkinson.
Unused substitutes: Luis Tibbles and Louis McIntosh.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Daniel Akubuine, Alex Brown, Stephen Gleeson, Dan Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, Lawrie Marsh, Lewis Barker, Callum Stead, GOAL 3 MINUTES, Matthew Moloney, (Sam Meakes, 90), Rio Dasilva, GOAL 2 MINUTES.
Unused substitutes: Jack Green, Stephen Cawley, Ryan Smith and Malaki Black.
REFEREE: Mr Paul Quick, assisted by Mr Eji Amsiejus and Mr Richard Pace.
ATTENDANCE: 293
REPORT BY PIPEMAN