WEEKLY BULLETIN – 16TH SEPTEMBER

FIXTURES

  • There is no game this Saturday as we are out of the FA Cup. The Herts Senior Cup game with Welwyn Garden City has been moved from Monday 19th September to Monday 3rd October kick-off 7.45pm. This is because no games are being played on the day of the Queen’s funeral per FA instructions.
  • There is as yet no new date for the Coalville game that was postponed last Saturday.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

BEDFORD

I was really disappointed with the display at Bedford. We had had a very good training session last Saturday after the Coalville game was postponed and the warm up before the Bedford game was the best of the season. Therefore, I was very surprised when we started the game so poorly although credit must be given to Bedford for coming out of the traps so quickly.

Bedford should have scored before they did in the first minute and I thought we might have got away with it but we did not heed the warning signs. After the goal we had to weather a storm but as the half wore on I thought things started to settle down and I hoped to keep it to 1-0 and then regroup for the second half. Unfortunately we were punished for an error just before half time which left us with a mountain to climb.

We changed our formation for the second half to match up with Bedford and I thought we were getting back into the game when we conceded a third goal. We introduced fresh legs for the last half hour and there were some bright moments that I intend to build on.

I know two successive 3-0 defeats is far from ideal but I urge you all to keep supporting the team and not panic. We are missing key players in Jack Morrell. Rio Desilva and Lewis Barker, while Jack Green is having fitness issues. George Devine has been out since the pre-season games and Diogo Freitas-Gouveia is only slowly reaching match fitness. When these players return it will strengthen the squad. It is probably no bad thing that we do not play again until next Saturday as we need the time for players to recover.

We will train on Saturday and Tuesday.

MARK BURKE

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Wednesday 14th September we played our FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round game at home against MK Irish.

Our team had not trained or played together since the 7-2 victory over Godmanchester Rovers. We knew going into the game it would be a difficult ask, to get players who are not used to training and playing together to produce what was needed to beat a very well drilled, organised MK Irish team.

The game could not have got off to a better start as within 35 seconds Harry Dollimore broke down the left to cross for Torin Ntege who with the help of the defender managed to put the ball into the back of the net. The young Canaries carried on to move the ball with speed and create opportunities but were unable to take them. In the 14th minute another cross from Harry Dollimore, found Uko Oji in the box who calmly finished to make it 2-0. The game continued in a similar pattern, however after the 30 minute mark, MK Irish came into the game and had more possession without really creating anything clear cut. The scoreline was now looking more dangerous as the next goal would be vital in determining the outcome of the match. In the 45th minute after more chances that weren’t taken, Torin Ntege went one on one with the goalkeeper and slotted the ball past him to make it 3-0 at half time.

The second half started a lot slower than the first half with Mk Irish creating a few chances due to some unnecessary risks at the back from the young Canaries. However after some great play from Torin Ntege in the 58th minute he managed to find Uko Oji at the back post who grabbed his second of the game. This put the game out of MK Irish reach and allowed the young Canaries to play with even more freedom and after a great one – two with Shaun Senkubuge substitute Caleb Wright went ono on one with the on rushing keeper to cooly finish into the bottom corner. We thought the scoring may have been over but in the 90th minute a defence splitting pass from Shuan Senkubuge found Uko Oji who completed his hat-trick.

We now await the draw for the next round which is scheduled to be played week commencing 26th September.

CHARLIE HORLOCK
I have interviewed our club captain Charle Horlock this morning and he gave me a fascinating insight into his philosophy and to his thoughts on all things Hitchin Town FC. I hope to have an article ready for all social media outlets sometime next week.

BY ROY IZZARD