Report
So, a new season is finally underway. It seems that we have been waiting a long time. After a frustrating journey owing to roadworks we still arrived in good time and noticed that there is now a £3 charge for car parking which was never in place before. It was explained that it was the cheapest car park around.
Redditch has an artificial pitch which certainly earns its keep, bringing vital funds to the club as well as making postponements a rarity.
Hitchin, playing in their magenta and black kit, even if Redditch goalkeeper Kieran Boucher’s outfit seemed a close match. It was indeed a close match that was well contested, and away supporters made the sound point that the Canaries deserved a point, which they battled for right to the final whistle in what was an exciting conclusion.
The knee was taken, a familiar sight and soon we were off at an exciting pace. Hitchin enjoyed early possession with Josh Coldicott- Stevens having a blocked shot. Then there was an over the top ball for Luke Brown, with Boucher quick off his line to cut off the chance.
Redditch attacked on the left, won a corner and got the ball into the net but the effort was ruled offside. Luke Brown won a free-kick at about twenty- five yards, but Alex Marsh’s shot lacked pace and venom.
Hitchin received a further warning about conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas. This eventually proved their undoing but on this occasion Horlock saved well.
A Hitchin free- kick saw Dasilva win a corner but Furlong could get no purchase on his header. Then Redditch won another that very nearly brought the opening goal, with Horlock pushing the ball onto the post and out for a corner. This went for a throw- in for Redditch who elected for the long throw (a tactic I feel is worth a good half dozen goals a season.) This throw fell opportunely for Daniel Sweeney who converted well after twenty-six minutes.
Hitchin responded well and a cross from Alex Brown aiming for Stead but it was well defended. Hitchin corners were mediocre at this point allowing Boucher to catch with ease. Chay Tilt whose pace was becoming noticeable won a corner and on a good run after this won another free- kick but Rahis Nabi sent this wide.
Hitchin badly needed a decent shot on goal and this almost came when Stead’s effort took a deflection for a corner. At the other end Tilt was pestering again and put a header wide.
With Max Ryan unceremoniously shoved to the turf, we had a flurry of excitement with Webb providing a cross that was not fully cleared and Webb, unbalanced, tried a shot that was well over the cross bar.
We were approaching half time and the much vaunted ‘good time to score’ and Hitchin almost achieved it. Stead had been fouled and the free-kick by Alex Marsh was held by Boucher. Then, right at the end of the half Alex Marsh’s header glanced just wide. They were not finished yet as Stead’s effort went disappointingly wide.
It had been a tight half with Redditch exploiting their prowess at free kicks, which was in evidence early in the second half. The home side had seen off early pressure and we had not been playing long when Hitchin lost possession in midfield and a cheeky lob with Horlock off his line saw the Hitchin keeper recover and scramble back to concede a corner.
Recovering from this, Hitchin applied themselves well and, really, had the better of this second period- but another masterful free- kick became their undoing. As well as this the veteran Redditch defender Asa Charlton intervened crucially on more than one occasion and prevented two probable goals.
A cross from Luke Brown failed to gain a Hitchin connection but it was touched out by a defender for a corner. It was a cunning ‘training ground’ corner from Alex Marsh who fairly short diagonal pass found Luke Brown who seized the equaliser that on the balance of play was well deserved. We had played fifty- one minutes.
So far my prediction league result was holding firm but the way Hitchin still conceded free- kicks was causing some alarm. Nabi put this one over the bar. Then a Hitchin free- kick saw Stead head straight at Boucher.
Another Canaries’ attack saw good play from both sides and Luke Brown’s effort looked the business until Charlton’s timely intervention. I heard Boucher congratulate his defender saying he had prevented a goal and we all agreed.
The corner from Marsh was a replica of the one that brought the equaliser but this time it did not work. Yet another conceded free-kick from Hitchin saw Jemmett- Hudson’s effort clear the cross bar.
Alex Marsh was unfortunate when his fine effort took a deflection from the ubiquitous Charlton. Dasilva was working hard on the flank but always under pressure but he was indeed a threat. Luke Brown, combining well with Stead saw their move again thwarted by Charlton. Once more Hitchin pitched forward and Alex Marsh tried to pick out Stead, but without success.
Redditch attacked on the left and it looked good until a foul gave them a free-kick in a promising area. This was the one that did for Hitchin as Sweeney’s unstoppable free- kick restored the hone side’s lead after seventy- seven minutes. We had repeatedly been warned.
Then, almost immediately after the goal Tilt -on a fine run appeared to be impeded, and of the course the appeal for a penalty was loud and long. The referee dismissed the appeal. Stead then crossed to Marsh but Charlton was there to spoil the chance.
From the corner Furlong shot wide. At the other end Sweeney, on his tod, ran and fired wide in search of his hat trick.
Dasilva’s next cross was too close to the goal keeper. Then a Luke Brown shot was blocked by you know who. An unintentional ricochet off Marsh almost deceived Boucher but right near the end Redditch substitute Tiago Nassunculo fired one in that we all thought was the third goal. Incredibly this effort saw the ball hit one post and skim along the goal line but not cross it.
Hitchin rallied in the late stages and came within inches of securing an equaliser, with efforts from Snee and Stead coming agonisingly close. I think most of those in the stadium would have conceded that an equaliser and a draw for Hitchin was well deserved.
It was not the start we wanted of course but be assured that Hitchin played well throughout this game except for the tendency to concede free- kicks in dangerous areas.
They return to action next week at home to Nuneaton.
REDDITCH UNITED
Kieran Boucher, Ryan George, Lewis Hudson, cautioned, Kieran Day, captain Asa Charlton , this reporter’s man of the match, Ryan Woolacott, Chay Tilt, (Callum Allchurch), Dennis Digie, (Tiago Nassunculo), Daniel Sweeney, TWO GOALS,26 and 77 minutes, Rahis Nabi, Curtis Jemmett- Hutson.
Other substitutes: Luke Cox, Kaden May and Daniel Djurovic.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Max Ryan, cautioned, (Lawrie Marsh), Alex Brown, Ryan Smith, Daniel Webb, captain, (Ben Walster), Darien Furlong, Alex Marsh, Josh Coldicott- Stevens, Callum Stead, Luke Brown, GOAL, 51 Minutes, Rio Dasilva, (Henry Snee).
Other substitutes: Kye Tearle and Lewis Barker.
REFEREE: Mr N Pratt, assisted by Mr L Mansfield-King and Mr M Wright.
ATTENDANCE: 355
REPORT BY PIPEMAN