Report
Four points from two games was manager Mark Burke’s target, but his battling team was not that far from maximum points in a finely and fairly contested game at Dales Lane tonight. The Pics were in fifth place an had suffered only three defeats in the league so far.
We waited patiently at Top Field for the coach which had been delayed , but we made good time on the journey despite motorway congestion. Team news was about the departure of both Dan Akubuine, to Berkhamsted and Lawrie Marsh has returned to Biggleswade.This meant starts for Josh Coldicott-Stevens and Malaki Black.
On our previous visit to Dales Lane we conceded not one but two very early goals and had to chase the game in vain. Tonight we kept up this unwanted tradition and were a goal down within two minutes. It was a poor goal to concede. The Pics stormed along the right channel and a low cross from Rackeem Reid was converted by Owen Parry.
That of course increased the difficultly facing the Canaries, whose 4-0 away win at Stourbridge had boosted confidence. A good performance was needed to show that that result was no fluke. The goal from the Pics was no fluke, but the defending ought to have been a bot more astute.
As at Stourbridge, that opening spell was generally underwhelming and obtaining and keeping possession was a distinct problem. But, again as at Stourbridge, the team played themselves into this half to be the better of the two sides. Certainly the travelling support behind the goal was appreciative of the way Hitchin applied themselves. Rushall had been confident, could switch plays and pass well, but there was an element of caution about them that seemed to invite Hitchin forward.
After ten indifferent minutes, there was a meaningful goal attempt from Hitchin that might well have found the net. A defensive error was pounced upon and the chance fell to Hutchinson, who needed to beat the advancing Thomas Palmer, but the goalkeeper was able to defend the effort with credit.
A further defensive error gave Hitchin a free -kick after thirteen minutes. Gleeson floated the ball in and like many times before, skipper Dan Webb was there and his header found the top right corner and Hitchin were level. Naturally it was celebrated in full manner since the lads know they are playing for survival, and above all to lift themselves from that bottom spot.
It showed how vital Palmer’s save from Hutchinson was, and the effect seemed to inspire Hitchin to further effort. They had more possession, creative ideas and were fearless in defence. A Gleeson free-kick needed to be punched clear, but Horlock also had to come off his line to cut out an effort from Reid. The Pics favoured the long throw-in when they could.
Stead was playing wide again and was closely monitored. Ciaren Jones was commented on since he was wearing a protective mask owing to his eye injury sustained on Saturday, and it made him look a tough customer, almost like a bank robber in shorts. But he did not short change the team and had an impressive game.
Callum Coyle and Rackeem Reid put together an attack on the left that brought a low shot that went wide for a goal kick. Hitchin began to ask more questions in front of goal, but still conceded those free-kicks that give us the jitters, as they are always in dangerous areas that seem to offer a shot. We had to endure at least three of these tonight.
Hutchinson was looking for further opportunities, as well as Stead, and there was considerable input from Coldicott-Stevens and Barker. A good cross from Alex Brown almost got through to a Hitchin head but there was a sustained period of good Hitchin pressure that needed and received careful defending.
Gleeson’s precise passing was notable as Hitchin began to look the likelier side to score next, but the Pics were adept at the quick counter and were able to get in crosses almost every time. In the thirty-fourth minute a superb pice of play was witnessed after a cunning short goal kick from Horlock out to the left and the ball was whipped across to Hutchinson whose shot only just cleared the cross bar. This move has been tried with success before, and like the short corner routine, has met with some success.
JCS tried a bit of cunning play himself and had he been totally aware where Stead was it might have developed into a serious attempt on goal. As we approached the interval I felt satisfied with Hitchin’s performance and after that poor start they had improved if not to dominate, then to state they were not there to lose.
Indeed a firm shot from Barker was only stopped when Whithall bravely threw himself in the way. Gleeson’s corner had us looking for Webb and it was that short one that did not work because the telling pass was scuffed, and it was not the fault of the impeccable artificial pitch.
JCS sent a pass to Hutchinson whose intended shot was blocked for a corner. Gleeson placed the ball forward of the quadrant, which is habitual with players now and never picked up on – a bit like foul throws. Hitchin conceded a free-kick in typical fashion in the forty-third minute and it seemed ages before it was taken by Alex Moore -which increased the tension but thankfully it went over the bar and it was the last meaningful action before the interval.
Hitchin had played their way into this game but there was drama, disappointment and some relief to come. If Hitchin had performed better in the first half, then Rushall edged the second, probably exhorted by their manager who may well have suggested that they should be beating the team propping up the division.
Stead had a go, which was saved by Palmer. He could have picked out a colleague but it was worth a go. There was a decent bit of possession from Hitchin in these early minutes, then the game seemed to lose a little bit of its lustre, but not for long as this was a good end-to-ended overall.
Horlock leapt to defend a corner, then there was a blocked shot for the Pics, and Coyle did well to create another chance. A counter move from
Hitchin had the sting taken from it. Soon Hitchin were called upon to defend in a good spell for the hosts. It was good to note that neither team was displaying the least notion of settling for a draw, and indeed Hitchin would have welcomed three points a good deal more than just the one and one of course is a whole lot better than nothing.
It was so equally contested that despite the efforts of both teams it did seem likely that the game should end in a draw and there were anxious efforts to avoid errors. This meant for robust clearing of the ball rather than an artistic break out suffused with style, but no matter. A shot from Hutchinson was deflected for a corner and Palmer plucked the ball out of the air and immediately punted it forward. This was his style and he did it mess about.
A low cross from the Pics brought a corner and then another and then it was Horlock’s turn for aerial antics. Rushall made all permitted substitutes, with Hitchin holding off until very late in the game. Combative play continued and as we reached the seventy-seventh minute it seemed like a draw would be an equitable outcome, but the hosts snatched the lead following a disputed corner, which in turn brought a bit of a disaster for Hitchin.
The corner was zipped in and substitute Richard Batchelor had a clean and free header which he put away with aplomb. It was a bitter blow and recriminations were to follow. Stead and Hutchinson combined before the event alluded to, but without profitable conclusion. The Pics had a free kick and this brought the disputed corner. It was mostly disputed by Gleeson who made his feelings known to the assistant referee in language both painful and free. His dismissal followed. JCS had unleashed a shot that we had to duck from, but the painful truth was that the Pics were ahead and Hitchin, with ten men had under fifteen minutes left to salvage the game.
It was felt to be harsh on Hitchin who had played so well and were now having to chase the game – and with the dismissal of Gleeson with a straight red card, the task was not an easy one. It was time for ten men syndrome. After Gleeson had traipsed off Hitchin rallied, defended, pushed forward and ultimately were rewarded and the big hero of the night was skipper Dan Webb who scored the equaliser deep into stoppage time which had been extended owing to one or two incidents. ‘I just hit it’ said Webb to me later, as I asked him how he was able to take aim through a forest of legs in that crowded gospel mouth.
Hitchin had thrown caution to the wind, being somewhat exposed at the back and with Horlock at one time off his line following a free-kick he had to scramble back in an undignified manner to prevent a goal. Thank goodness he did.
But the important thing is that the team was rewarded for its persistence and self-belief. When the goals came the travelling faithful erupted in glee and the players celebrate fulsomely, knowing they had salvaged a point and , as it turned out it was enough to lift Hitchin one place above Nuneaton Borough, who have a game in hand.
Tamworth are the visitors to Top Field on Saturday and we remember well the battling 0-0 draw at their place in a match rearranged after the short fuel crisis.
The team tonight was never running on empty. They were not on cruise control as at Stourbridge but they still impressed. Here’s hoping for a third game without defeat and this revival continuing.
RUSHALL OLYMPIC
Thomas Palmer, Kristian Green, Reece Mitchell, Thomas Thorley, Tyler Little, Sam Whithall, Callum Coyle, Alex Moore, cautioned, Daniel Glover, captain, (Tyrone Orfori), Owen Parry, GOAL, 2 MINUTES, (Richard Batchelor,GOAL, 77 MINUTES), Rackeem Reid, (Ben Usher-Shipway).
Substitutes not used: Mitchell Clarke and Kory Roberts.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Jack Green, Alex Brown, Stephen Gleeson, dismissed, straight red card, Dan Webb,TWO GOALS, 13 AND 90+3 MINUTES, MAN OF THE MATCH, Ciaren Jones, Callum Stead, (Jordan Kinoshi), Lewis Barker, Jacob Hutchinson, Josh Coldicott-Stevens, Malaki Black, (Matthew Moloney).
Unused substitutes: Delsin Ackom, Kyle Tearle and Stan Georgiou.
REFEREE: Mr Thomas Kelly, assisted by Mr Aaron Ford and Mr Lewis Mountain.
ATTENDANCE: 212
REPORT BY PIPEMAN