Recap
It is a pleasure to visit New Roker Park, a splendid purpose-built stadium, and of course there is a close connection as manager Brett Donnelly was a former Hitchin Town player. Stotfold finished last season as champions as Division One of the Spartan League and look forward to the coming campaign in the Premier Division.
It seems a long time since I was here and there was a tentative game during the pandemic and I was reprimanded by a steward for returning a ball to the pitch from the stand. An attempt had been made to sanitise the balls when they went out of play, but it was little more than a symbolic act.
There were seventeen players in the Hitchin squad and they all saw action except ‘keeper Josh Mollison. There were other players who were unavailable through injury. It was sunny and the pitch looked thirsty and hard.
Manager Mark Burke had written that in this game his team ought to get a good deal more of the possession than they did against the professional clubs in the continuing pre-season programme. Well, he was mostly right but it took until the second half for Hitchin to achieve dominance, as the Ambers proved stubborn opponents.
Indeed they settled better and were a goal up within five minutes. The goal came after a bright opening for the visitors, where Kye Tearle was exhibiting his potential as playmaker. There was a fine interchange with Lewis Barker bringing the first shot of the game. All was seeming to be developing well, and then a spectre of last season made an unwelcome reappearance. A free kick was conceded and this was sent in bestowing a free header that was converted emphatically. We are used to this of course, but it does not make it any easier to view.
As well as the goal, what became apparent was that the hosts began to play with more cohesion and had the better of possession and chances to increase their lead. There were some inspired moments from Tearle and Dasilva whose shot was saved. Meakes had a half chance but had strayed offside. Stotfold had a good crack on goal that went wide. Then, after twenty minutes there was an other fluid move involving Dasilva and Tearle and it was the former’s reverse pass that saw the latter shape for a shot with narrowed eyes and it was an excellent low strike for the equaliser. This goal served to rejuvenate Hitchin as they forced a corner and Joe Babbage could have done better with his shot that cleared the bar. After what is known now as a ‘cooling break’ there were further chances for the hard working Ambers who had done well to contain the improving visitors.
A Dasilva cross looked good but the home keeper cut it out well. The lively Allotey shot wide and at the other end the home centre forward found himself free for an unchallenged shot but he fluffed his lines and it ought to have restored the lead for the hosts. Tearle, now becoming increasingly influential tried one from an awkward angle but it proved too difficult and soon we had reached the interval. It had been an entertaining half of even exchanges and Stotfold had matched Hitchin blow for blow.
The second half p[roved to be different since the hosts spirited play lost its cohesion to a degree and the visitors began to impose themselves with greater cohesion. They almost snatched the lead after an exciting flurry of activity in the Stotfold six yard box and a close range shot hit the post and no-one had noticed the offside flag.
Seni Akinola had come on to good effect and a move started by Jack Green and finished on conclusively by Dasilva suggested more of the same but with perhaps a goal or two. Dasilva’s next shot was saved and Stotfold’s lack of the precision they had show earlier was being exploited, with Akinola almost providing the lead as Hitchin began to look more dangerous. Stotfold’s free-kicks were mediocre, calling for routine saves from Horlock.
Meakes, who had been seeking out chances, won a free kick on the edge of the area after a bit of a tussle, resulted in Dasilva firing over the bar. With Hitchin pressing hard it seemed probable that they would breach the home defence and it was achieved in a pleasing manner. The influential Tearle sent in a fine corner that saw a splendid glancing header from Jack Morrell that saw the visitors take the lead with less than ten minutes to go.
Meakes had a further chance soon after but was crowded out by defenders, and then Tearle was further denied as was Devine, both seeing an example of brave goalkeeping. Hitchin saw out the game comfortably and deserved a win they had been made to work hard to achieve.
It was good to see the first goals of the pre-season scored from open play. The next opponents for Hitchin will be a Watford X1 on Tuesday, yes the very night that the Lionesses will be taking on the Swedes.
The game was well attended and the hospitality of our hosts was exemplary and we wish them every success in their Spartan Premier Division campaign.
HITCHIN TOWN
Charlie Horlock, Delsin Ackom, Jack Morrell, Toby Syme, Joe Babbage, Jack Green, Lewis Barker, Kye Tearle, GOAL, 20 MINUTES. Man of the Match, Sam Meakes, Rio Dasilva, Jonny Allotey.
Substitutes used -George Devine, Josh Setchell, Alfie Jones, Dan Olanaran, Seni Akinola. Not used – Josh Mollison.
No details available for Stotfold.
Attendance. 237
REPORT BY PIPEMAN