WEEKLY BULLETIN – 12TH NOV

FIXTURES

• Saturday 13th November No game
• Tuesday 16th November Away to Lowestoft league kick-off 7.45pm. Coach leaves at 3.30pm.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

BIGGLESWADE

This game was not a pretty affair which is so often the case with local derbies. However I thought we were the dominant force and looked the more likely to win the game. Defensively we were very solid and really restricted any Biggleswade chances. While we did not have a clear cut chance we had plenty of half chances. It ended with us securing a second successive 0-0 draw away from home and I wanted us to take this clean sheet and useful point to build on against Leiston on Monday.

LEISTON

I was absolutely delighted with the result and performance against a Leiston team flying high in the league and who had beaten us in the FA Trophy so recently. I thought we played well throughout and scored four very well executed goals. I really enjoyed the game and the atmosphere the crowd created helped our players throughout. It is now important we take this result and the confidence gained in to next Tuesday’s difficult trip to Lowestoft.

LOWESTOFT

With no game on Saturday we hastily arranged a behind closed doors friendly with St Albans on Thursday to ensure our new signings, players returning from injury and those who had been on the bench recently got vital match practice. On Saturday we will train in the morning.

We make our longest journey of the season to Lowestoft on Tuesday (having made our shortest journey of the season to Biggleswade on a Saturday!). We will be buoyed by the last two league games and will have much improved confidence going in to a tough game and will look to continue the unbeaten league run.

HITCHIN 3-1 ST ALBANS
Hitchin beat St Albans in this behind closed doors friendly with goals from Callum Stead, Lawrie Marsh (penalty) and Stephen Gleeson. The game was played over three 30 minute segments and at various stages Darien Furlong, Josh Caldicott-Stevens, Delson Ackom, Ryan Smith, Josh Mollison, Robbie Burns and Jordan Kinoshi gained playing time along with a number of academy players. Unfortunately Jordan picked up an injury that will sideline him for a short time..

Saints manager Ian Allison was present and ex Canary Michael Johnson (the current St Albans goalkeeper) actually acted as linesman for part of the game showing that he remains totally grounded despite his current fame! Michael still cares about Hitchin and was convinced we would soon climb the table.

SALUTE TO HITCHIN TOWN SUPPORTERS
I would like to pay tribute to our supporters who have shown such great loyalty this season. In the Southern League Central Division attendance league table Hitchin are in eighth position with an average attendance of 429. This is quite remarkable as we are bottom of the actual league table. On Monday night we had 372 attending the Leiston game despite having only scored two goals in seven games and not having won for twelve games. Not only was the number attending much higher than could have been expected but they got behind the team throughout despite their obvious frustration at the season so far. The management and players really appreciate the loyalty our supporters continue to display and everyone is determined to reward them. Even at Biggleswade half the crowd appeared to be Hitchin supporters. Checking back to the 2016/17 season when we reached the play-off final our Monday night attendances were lower than this season which just shows how are supporters are fully committed to the club.

We have vastly improved facilities for our supporters at Top Field and I know this has been appreciated. We continue to see good numbers of young supporters and if we can start to move up the table I am convinced the attendances will continue to increase.

But once again thank you to all Hitchin supporters for continuing to support the club through this difficult period and you will never be taken for granted and without you there is no club.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

On Wednesday 10th November we hosted top of the table Barking FC looking to keep our unbeaten record going. The game was very evenly matched with ourselves just edging it and coming in at half time with a 1-0 lead. The second half we didn’t start great and allowed Barking to pressure us, this resulted in two late goals and our first defeat of the season.

Goal: Lewis Franklin

Our SCL team travelled to Barking looking to improve on previous weeks performances. We totally dominated from start to finish, eventually winning the game 11-1. The players stayed very professional throughout and maintained our high standards.

Goals: Harrison Sollis x3, Nathan Bell x3, Jordan Gear x2, Oscar Trotter, Ansu Koroma, Scott Wilson

We are currently recruiting for players for the 22/23 season, to register your interest or for further information please use this link below – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY

Both teams in league action this week, the XIs were at home to Knebworth Ladies FC and this is what manager Richard had to say.

So today we played Knebworth Ladies away, with 12 players including an injured outfield player to play in goal so Reinsford our regular goalkeeper could play on the pitch.
Starting line-up.
Thompson, Piper, Day, Coffey, Moore, Elliott, Evans, Watson, Smith, Reinsford, Spang.
Sub, Coughlan-Flood

We started with a 3-5-2 formation to try and bolster the midfield. We started brightly with lots of possession. On 4 minutes Smith won a free kick which was taken by Coffey 25 yards out and she screamed the ball into the goal and Hitchin were winning 1-0, great start. Knebworth reacted well and had several attacks, shooting just over the bar and just wide. A great run down the left by Spang and a shot saved by the Knebworth goalie.
Sub 23 minutes Elliot off and Coughlan-Flood on.
2 minutes later and Knebworth attacked down the right and stuck the ball in the net. 1-1. Only a couple of minutes after that Knebworth broke our off-side line to shoot again and score. 2-1.
Sub on 40 minutes Coughlan-Flood off injured and Elliott back on. Now we are going to have to play the rest of the game with no subs and 3 players playing with injuries. Another attack by Knebworth just before half time saw them score again.
Half time 3-1.
Hitchin players were sent out second half after a stern team talk to pick up their intensity and urgency but again Knebworth attacked but this time saved by Thompson. On 65 minutes Elliott came off injured and we had to play with 10 players on the field and with players getting tired it was an uphill struggle. Knebworth then hit the crossbar and again the post, and bringing on young fresh legs we started to lose our shape and chase the ball. Elliott came back on to give us 11 players again. But unfortunately, we were outplayed by Knebworth.
Final score 3-1 to Knebworth Ladies.
Thoughts are with Coughlan-Flood who had to go to hospital after the game.
Player of the match
Taylar Coffey

The Canaries were at away to Kempston Ladies FC and this is what coach Callum had to say.

Today the Canaries travelled to Kempston Rovers FC for the game against their women’s section. The game got underway and both teams were enjoying an equal amount of possession showing each other that they were dangerous on the counter. The first chance fell to the Canaries when Carter was fed from Allen who released a shot however it glanced just past the post. Colyer, Allen, Mercer were all releasing shots on the edge but couldn’t break the deadlock. Rufaioglu was kept busy sweeping across the field keeping Kempston at bay. Amies was sent crashing to the floor with a kick in the ankle after winning the ball from a Kempston player and was forced to the sideline. GOAL! Allen was sent through by Mercer who fired over the oncoming Kempston keeper breaking the deadlock. Another few chances went for the Canaries however they flashed just wide. Wilson was getting stuck in and pulled around by Kempston however she was battling with an injury but still continued to strive. McIntyre cancelled a few Kempston counter attacks with Schofield but Kempston kept piling on the pressure on Nemeth’s goal. Amies was reintroduced into the game and made an immediate impact by ending a Kempston attack. GOAL! Allen was sent through by that assist Queen Colyer who fired into the Kempston net doubling the Canaries lead. The whistle blew for half time and it was the Canaries who were on top.

The second half got underway and it was Kempston who started strongly with a string of counter attacks. However they didn’t trouble the Canaries goal. GOAL! Kempston opened their tally of the afternoon after the Canaries failed to react quickly to another counter. GOAL! Allen was played through the defence of Kempston by Edwards and she rounded the keeper for her third of the day and perfect response to the Kempston goal. Unfortunately Wilson was too injured to continue and had to withdraw from the game and there was forty minutes left to play. GOAL! I have no idea what happened, I was updating the Full-Time app with the Canaries third goal but Kempston got their second. Kempston utilised the extra player however there were many attacks from the Canaries that flashed just wide. Edwards had a free kick saved within the dying moments of the game. GOAL! Kempston capitalised on a Canaries mistake and equalised in added time. The referee blew for the final whistle and points were shared on a truly frustrating game where it could be argued the points should have been coming back to Hitchin. A point is better than none and it keeps us in third within the league table with a two week break from league action. We regroup and look to the next game which is the first round of the League Cup away to Division One side Knebworth Ladies FC.

Players Player of the game Colyer
Managers player of the game Carter

Sunday 14th November 2021 fixtures are:

BHWFL League Cup Round One

13:30 – HTWFC XI v Kempston Ladies FC
Ickleford Recreation Ground, Chambers Lane, Ickleford

BHWFL League Cup Round One

Knebworth Ladies FC v HTWFC Canaries

Kimpton Rovers FC , High Street, Kimpton, SG4 8RA

Keep up to date on our Twitter with all the live scores @HitchinTownWFC or on Facebook, Hitchin Town Womens FC

We are still continuing to recruit for players for the 2021/2022 season. We train Wednesday evenings at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU. Training starts at 20:30 and finishes at 21:30, all abilities welcome!

BY ROY IZZARD