Report
It was a pleasure to re-visit The Lantern Stadium, which I have not seen since 2011. What a transformation; a new 3G pitch and enormous changes to the infrastructure, entirely suited to the level at which the club plays, and it would be so should they be promoted.
Hitchin earned the right to face The Scholars in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after overcoming Grays Athletic at the second attempt. I looked up Fishponders Stats and discovered that the two teams have never met in a league game or the FA Cup. We have met seven times in Hertfordshire domestic cups, and Hitchin have won five and Potters Bar two.
Today, Hitchin were the underdogs since our hosts are members of the Isthmian Premier division, and although they have made a rocky start to their league campaign, they were favourites to progress in this prestigious competition. They were seconds away from achieving this.
The last time we met, at Top Field, Hitchin won 3-2 but was was notable in that game was the presence of more than two dozen stout Norwegians, who had come from Oslo and specifically to see Potters Bar Town, their adopted English club (because it contained the word ‘Bar’, apparently). They were very vocal, dedicated drinkers and if you were in close proximity, you received a man hug. They were a splendid addition to the occasion, and it was a great pity they were not here today to cheer for The Scholars.
Hitchin were missing a number of players for diverse reasons, one of them being the injury sustained by our young goalkeeper, Josh Bowler, whose dislocated shoulder will keep him out for some time. He was replaced by the son of one of our former players, also a goalkeeper. Alfie Bonfield is the son of Darren Bonfield, a regular for Hitchin Town. Josh was sat in the stand, wearing his sling.
Of interest was the inclusion in the Potters Bar squad of Ronnie Henry, who is now forty-one but still a player of note. Hitchin began with an exploratory attack that concluded with an almost apologetic shot from Callum Kane. Payne’s long throw suggested he would get the measure Hitchin defence which was more than Webber did with his cross.
Franklin and Tearle’s combined but the effort was interrupted and Gleeson’s free kick was headed in by Alemanji but not effectively. Bonfield was looking comfortable in goal, and the team was adapting well to the artificial pitch. The Scholars had a free kick, which suggested cleverness but was entirely wasted and actually led to a counter move from Hitchin that brought a corner, followed by another. This brought a fierce but inaccurate shot from Rhiney.
A home corner of poor quality followed. The opening quarter of an hour had seen an equality in play. A long throw from Payne was headed clear with indignation but The Bar worked an attack along the right flank with Payne sending in the high throw, resulting in a miss from Adams. He had another go before a free kick was awarded, wide on the left. This brought a corner, the another, after a narrow miss. The Hitchin defence was under pressure but coping well. A shot from Kane was more than one across the bow – it needed Burbridge to make a good save. It was a fine response from the visitors.
Nicolson’s through ball to Amanji was just a little too heavy. In their next attack The Scholars took the lead via Adams, whose shot was just squeezed beyond Bonfield after twenty-six minutes, following good work from Re and Henry. Worse was to follow a minute later when The Bar increased their lead and made matters very difficult for Hitchin who had played well hitherto. The scorer was Nathaniel Orafu.
Adams, on the run looked as if he might score again but the pace outdid him. Hitchin had a free kick that was punched away Burbridge and a corner swiftly followed. Jones had two hopeful headers, but the ball ended up making a noise as it landed on top of the main stand following a hasty clearance. Hitchin then conceded a corner which was defended. It was a pity that the visitors had not scored as their play had merited this greater reward and a two-goal deficit after half an hour was of ominous significance.
Indeed, Bonfield prevented a third when Adan’s eluded his marker, and then a corner needed defending, with one shot blocked and another shaving the crossbar.
A free kick for the visitors led to an over-elaborate move that eventually petered out but involved some good football. Hitchin continued in this vein as half time approached and needed to reduce arrears if they had any chance of saving this tie.
A free kick for the hosts came right at the end of the half and was blazed unceremoniously over the bar. Alemanji as bundled over and there was a debate to see if this was a penalty. We hoped so but it seemed to be right inside the D. The shot was a miss, and the the whistle went. That miss reminded us that the hosts had converted opportunities whilst we had seen them go begging. Even so, we felt that Hitchin did not deserve to be two goals to the bad.
We needed a blistering second half of imperious and accurate play which was just a bit unlikely. As usual there were plenty of Hitchin supporters who had boosted the attendance and filled the terrace behind the goal. There were no substitutions yet for either team. An early Hitchin move was cancelled out as was a move from The Bar.
A defensive error enabled Webber to have a free shot, and this produced a fine save from Bonfield, with the follow up shot proving wayward. Jones’ final pass in the next Hitchin move gave Kane little chance of successful connection. There was a decent try in the next move but again the end product was not what we desired.
Then an unfortunate and unintended handball from Syme gave Potters Bar a penalty which was saved by Bonfield, and from the resulting corner, only the side netting was struck. I was left wondering why the referee did not conclude that it was definitely ball to hand. But well done to Alemanji, whose masterful and delightful lob that made the score 2-1. Where there is hope there may be progress and there was time to force the replay. Hitchin supporters were buoyant for now. Perhaps we might get a dodgy penalty was a basement thought. That Bonfield penalty save may be looked on as a pivotal moment in the game.
Payne tormented with his long throw and the Hitchin defence gave clearances some welly. A corner for Hitchin was greeted and Gleeson and Franklin caused glee and disappointment as the latter’s header hit the post. A miss is as good as a mile, but even some home fans thought Hitchin should be level.
Burbridge left his line to send the ball into the adjacent housing for safety’s sake, and that served, in a way to remind us that Hitchin’s play needed more precision and the initiative ought to be sustained. Tearle was booked for nearly sending Doherty into the stand and, as light rain fell, Hitchin found themselves struggling to get possession. And yet, when they regained it, they were playing the better football. Stoppages were not beneficial and a great shot from Nicolson saw Burbridge tip the goal bound effort over the bar. A home free kick resulted from the corner. Gleeson was hauled down for a free kick, which was a cunning effort and then a corner, punched away by a pressurised Burbridge. It nagged at me that the team deserved an equaliser which was repeatedly denied, and effort was not lacking. Our senior placed opponents were undergoing a scare, but coping with it, even if they had a couple of players booked for time wasting.
Again, Burbridge made an outstanding save when Alemanji looked to have headed in the equaliser. Rhiney fired a free kick over the bar. The next effort saw the pace too fast for connection but still they tried, and fortune seemed to favour the hosts as we entered time added on. Morrall lost his footing in the area, and another precious chance was lost.
A late free kick brought a corner and then a thoroughly deserved equaliser. I had lost track of how long we had to go and uncommon with others I had no clear idea who had bagged the equaliser but was told that it was Callum Kane. It was later confirmed.
So, another last-minute leveller, and a replay to look forward to. We can be very proud of the Hitchin performance today, particularly bin the second half. As already the turning point of the game was Bonfield’s penalty save, as a three-goal deficit would have been insurmountable. There is no doubt that Hitchin were the better side in the exuberant second half. It was clear that in drawing a game that may have been viewed as lost at half time, meant a lot to the players. We consider as well that Burbridge, the home keeper was heroic in his personal performance and our skipper, Ciaren Jones, was an exemplary player and leader. It turned out to be an enthralling tie and we look forward to the replay on Tuesday.
Potters Bar Town
Burbridge – Reporters MOTM
Adjel-Hersey
Payne
Pedro
Doherty
Henry
Orafu (Goal – 28 mins)
Re
Adams (Goal – 26 mins)
Webber
Hutchinson
Substitutes
Kye
Anyadike
Brant
Kwatchet, Rose, Webb & Asiedu were unused
Hitchin Town
Bonfield
Franklin
Kane (Goal – 90+5 mins)
Syme
Briggs
Jones (C) – Hitchin’s MOTM
Nicolson
Gleeson
Rhiney
Alamanji (Goal – 66 mins)
Tearle
Substitutes
Morrall
Heaps
Bomolo
Butler, Joy, McDonald & Forbes were unused
Referee: Mr J Knight, assisted by Mr M Bougouizi and Mr V Constanti.
Attendance: 312
Report by Pipeman
Photos by Peter Else