WEEKLY BULLETIN – 17TH DEC

FIXTURE

• Saturday 18th December – Home to Tamworth League kick-off 3.00pm – Tickets must be bought online.
• There is no midweek fixture..

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

STOURBRIDGE

I was obviously delighted with both the performance and result at Stourbridge. Interestingly this game was a reversal of fortunes compared to so many recent games. In this case Stourbridge started well and put us under pressure and we then scored from our first counter attack—how often has that happened to us?

The goal buoyed us and dented Stourbridge but they still had plenty of possession before we scored our second goal. We had grown in to the game and had started to gain control. I was really pleased for Jake Hutchinson when he completed his hat-trick and if I was being greedy I would say he missed a great opportunity to score a fourth.

I felt we were very comfortable in the second half and we added icing to the cake with an excellent goal at the end of the game. Overall the boys worked tremendously hard and deserved their reward from their performance.

RUSHALL OLYMPIC

Due to traffic congestion we arrived later than we would have liked and we got caught cold at the start of the game as Rushall scored in the first couple of minutes. I was pleased with the way we responded to this major setback and we weathered the storm for the next period and got a very good equaliser. As at Stourbridge we grew in to the game and as the half went on I thought we edged proceedings although 1-1 was probably a fair score at half time.

The second half continued at a fast pace on the artificial surface with both teams trying to outwit each other. I was to say the least very disappointed with the linesman’s decision to award the corner from which Rushall took the lead. Our players were convinced the ball did not go out of play but the linesman made his decision from 60 yards away and despite having to look through the goal posts and a number of players. This was so reminiscent of the game at Hednesford where again a linesman incorrectly awarded a corner which led to a goal.

Unfortunately Steve Gleeson made his feelings known to the linesmen and was dismissed. I cannot condone Steve’s reaction although I fully understood his frustration. After the game he was very remorseful and apologised to me, the team and the match officials (making a face to face apology to the linesman). Steve knows he cannot do this again but since joining us has added passion, desire and aggression to the team that had been missing—he just went too far this time.

I was very proud of how we responded to the double setback of going behind and going down to 10 men. We fought back and grabbed a deserved equaliser in injury time and this against one of the most in form teams in the league. It was nice to move off the bottom of the table and it was another result for us to build on.

TAMWORTH

On Saturday we entertain one of the giants of the league in Tamworth. We will be looking to build on our recent results and performances and make home advantage count. I cannot thank the supporters enough for their continued support even when results have been disappointing. To get 520 watching the Rushden game was remarkable and I urge you all to turn out again tomorrow as your support really does lift the team.

PLAYER NEWS

• Dan Akubuine joined Berkhamsted this week while Lewis Marsh returned to Biggleswade. We thank them both for their past services and wish them well for the future.
• Kye Tearle is still not ready to return after his injury.
• Rio Desailva and Steve Cawley have recovered from illness and will be in the squad for the Tamworth game.

MERCHANDISE UPDATE
Christmas is just round the corner and Hitchin Town FC have plenty of gift ideas for you.

The Top Field Club Shop will be open as usual for Saturday’s game against Tamworth. If you are unable to attend the game or are shopping for a gift for a Canaries fan then we will also be open between 10am and mid-day.

On sale in the Club Shop tomorrow there will for the first time be the following items:

Bobble hats at £10 (also available online)
Beanie hats at £8 (also available online)
Bottle openers at £4 (not available online)
Coasters at £3 (not available online)

All other items will also be on sale: home and away shirts, hoodies, fleeces, polo shirts, scarves, mugs, badges, programmes and books, together with a selection of chocolate bars and confectionary. To support Shelter’s No Home Kit Campaign we are donating £10 from every away shirt sale in December to the charity.

We can confirm that all online orders made up to 12th December were despatched in time for pre-Christmas delivery.

Half season tickets are still on sale and cover the final ten home league games starting with the Tamworth game. They are £95 for adults, £55 for concessions,£15 for teenagers and £7.70 for under 13’s.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Tuesday 14th December our Head Coach Damon Lathrope lead the Pro:Direct 11 team to a 5-2 victory over Arsenal Academy U17 at Top Field. We also had 6 players from our Hitchin site in the squad. This was an outstanding performance for all involved and they thoroughly deserved the win.

Wednesday 15th December an under-strength team, due to the game the night before played at home against Kings Langley. Despite some really good play and plenty of chances we were unable to find a goal to win the game as the match finished 0-0. This result leaves us 3rd in the table going into the new year.

Our next open training session will be Wednesday 22nd December at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU at 4pm. 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

Update from Richard the Women’s XI manager from last weekend’s fixture.

Today we played away against Langford.

Starting line up
Reinsford, Piper, Coffey, Day, Moore, Spang, Clarke, Evans, Smith, Shackell and Higgs
Subs: Dean and Elliott.

We started with a 4-4-1-1 formation today against a young Langford side. The Canaries game was cancelled so a few came to support. Not having a game for 3 weeks I was expecting us to be a little rusty and slow to get going. 5 minutes into the game and an attack from Langford down the right brought a good save from Reinsford tipping the ball into the crossbar. 12 minutes into the game and another attack down the right by Langford saw them cross the ball to an unmarked player in the six yard box who slotted the ball in the net. 1-0 Langford

Hitchin responded well with several attacks down our left by Spang but her shots were saved by the Langford keeper and another shot went over the crossbar.

Hitchin were under pressure again but a great last ditch tackle by Day saved the day just as the Langford player was going to strike the ball on goal. Half time 1-0 Langford.

The second half we changed our formation as we were trying to play wide but it left the middle of the pitch quite vulnerable, so we overloaded the middle and it worked. We had lots more posession and started to come into the game. Dean had a shot that hit the post but the ref pulled it back for off side. Coffey took a knock and had to come off for a while and Moore came back on.

63 minuies and Langford had an attack down their left side and crossed to another totally unmarked player in the six yard box to score and make it 2-0.

A Langford player was brought down just outside the box and a free kick was awarded. Fairly central and the shot went top bins. Reinsford got a hand to it but unable to save the goal. 3-0 Langford.

88 minutes and a rare Hitchin attack saw a shot from Shackell saved again by the Langford goalie who was having a great game pulling off lots good saves, but from that Langford went straight down the other end and had a shot, parried by Reinsford, typical Hitchin luck today the ball fell straight to a Langford player to score. Final score 4-0 Langford.

I thought we played quite well today considering we haven’t had a game for 3 weeks and numbers at training haven’t been great recently. In some stages when we got the ball on the floor we played excellent football. But Langford where younger, faster and a lot fitter than Hitchin.

Team morale is still high and I am sure we will get back into it. I put todays performance down to just being one of those days, we know we can play better, and I’m sure we will.

A special mention to a couple of players that stood out from the rest today: Coffey, Spang, Elliott,

Player of the match was Gemma Smith with an outstanding performance in the middle of the pitch.

We are extremely grateful for the donations to our food parcels to the local food hub with Molly Malones. This is our last push for some donations! Please do keep donating like you have! We will be collecting the donations from The Arena on the 18th and then HTFC on the 19th December 2021. Fixtures this weekend:

BHWFL Division One – 13:30 kick off
Barton Rovers FC Ladies v HTWFC XI @ Barton Rovers FC

BHWFL Division Two – 13:30 kick off
HTWFC Canaries v Sherrardswood Ladies Fc @ Ickleford Sports & Recreation Ground

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!

CANARY CLUB UPDATE BY KATE DELLER

On Monday 13th December we welcomed the wonderful Hitchin Glee Choir to the Canary Club to give a wonderful, heart warming concert.

Sadly numbers were very few in the audience in no small part due to recent Covid fears. The Choir were excellent and gave a really good show and the atmosphere was great fun and the singing was amazing. We hope that we can make this an annual event that will grow with time.

Considering numbers were so low, we raised a very respectable £200.00 for our charity partners Garden House Hospice Care, Herts Disability Sports Foundation and First Haven.

Thank you very much to Jayne and her wonderful Glee Choir, you certainly made us feel very Christmassy.

 

Roy Izzard