FIXTURES

  • Saturday 29th January Home to Hednesford League kick-off 3.00pm. Tickets must be bought through our website.
  • Tuesday 1st February Away to Ware Friendly kick-off 7.45pm. Admission prices will be £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
  • Tamworth game is Monday 28th February 7.45pm kick-off.
  • We still do not have revised dates for the Peterborough Sports and Redditch games

There is a further game at Top Field this Sunday 30th January. It is a Mid Herts League Cup game between our Under 18 Yellows and our Under 17 Tigers so it is sure to be very keenly contested. There will be no entrance fee and both the Canary Kitchen and the Club Shop will be open during the game while the Canary Club will also be open during and after the game. Why not come and see our home grown talent.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH ASSISTANT MANAGER ADAM PARKER

NEEDHAM MARKET

I did not think that we played well in the first half and we failed to get out of first gear. For some reason we appeared lethargic but we still managed to take the lead after a goalkeeping error. Even this failed to lift us and we lacked urgency. I thought we defended too deep but when the equaliser came it was via a penalty that should never have been given. It was one of the softest penalties I have seen given for 20 years. Even the Needkam Market management team were shocked by the decision.

Salt was rubbed in to our wounds when we had a confident penalty appeal turned down by the referee. It seemed a clear case of hand to ball but not according to the referee. Needham Market are a good side and it does not help when the referee has an off day.

We fell 2-1 down when we did not react quick enough to the loose ball after Charlie Horlock had made a couple of saves. Then we had another clear handball in the penalty area missed by the referee so while we were not playing well key decisions going against us did not help. A penalty wrongly given against us and two penalties not given to us certainly aided Needham Market but their third goal was a great strike.

We made changes to the shape of the team and introduced younger legs to try and get back in the game but Needham Market held firm. We could have got a draw but too many players were below par and our lack of urgency and aggression cost us.

We cannot get too down after this defeat. The current squad really want to play for the club and know they need to give 100% in every game. We are in a league where anybody can beat anybody so you can never take your foot off the pedal. I think the three centre back formation has helped with wing backs getting forward while Jake Hutchinson has helped Callum Stead and the experience of Steve Gleeson and Steve Cawley has really added to the team. Our younger players are improving and there is now real competition for places. We have a great team spirit and I am really confident we will survive .

ADAM PARKER

HEDNESFORD

Hednesford are a good footballing side and had a great result against Peterborough Sports last Saturday. I am expecting a very entertaining game and it is very important we bounce back from last Saturday’s setback. I really hope we can attract another big crowd to Top Field and that the supporters can create a similar atmosphere to the St Ives game which really inspired the players.

MARK BURKE

PLAYER NEWS

  • Unfortunately Dan Webb will miss the Hednesford game through injury.
  • Lewis Barker faces a fitness test ahead of the Hednesford game.
  • Steve Gleeson received a two game ban for his sending off at Needham Market and will miss the Hednesford and Coalville games.

GROUND NEWS BY KATE DELLER
We will be carrying out some maintenance on the perimeter hedge of Top Field in the coming weeks and could do with some extra hands to make light work of it! Could anyone with garden gloves, tools and enthusiasm to help the Club please message Kate Deller on kate.deller@hitchintownfc.club Looking at possible dates in February.

MERCHANDISE NEWS
We have extended the pin badge range to include a black/white version of our new badge, same price £3.50, available in the Club Shop or online.

Bobble hats have proved so popular we have had to reorder and we are awaiting these.

Please visit the club shop on Saturday (or Sunday this week as well) to view our extensive range of merchandise. Please remember match day programmes, team sheets and sweets and chocolate bars are also on sale.

If you cannot get to a game please check the online club shop.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Wednesday 26th January we played away to Kings Langley and Soccer Elite.

The game against Kings Langley was in the National Youth Alliance league and was 2nd vs 4th in the table with the last fixture between us being a close encounter ending 0-0 in our final game before the Christmas break.

This game would follow a similar pattern to the previous fixture with not much in it between the two sides and the pitch making it difficult for either side to get the ball down and pass. This meant the game was a real battle and lacked the usual quality. The young Canaries battled hard and thanks to a goal from Marlow Gough came away with a 1-0 win.

We were away to unbeaten top of the table Soccer Elite in the SCL league. We were expecting another tough game for our development team. We had previously lost 2-1 at home to Soccer Elite earlier on in the season and knew this would be a difficult game to get any points. After a good start a lapse in concentration at the back allowed Soccer Elite to take a lead in the 33rd minute and before we could compose ourselves another mistake at the back allowed them to further their lead in the 35th minute. In the second half we started poorly and in the 47th & 49th minutes we conceded a further two goals.

Credit to all the players involved as they could have given up and the score line could have been worse but they kept battling to the end against a very good side. Although we did not deserve to get anything out of the game the score line did not reflect the match as it should have been a lot closer.

FREE Pro:Direct Under 16s 6 Aside Cup

We are delighted to announce our annual Pro:Direct Under 16s Cup has been scheduled for Monday 14th February 2022 at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 12noon and 3pm.

If you are interested in finding out more information about this please use this link – http://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/tournament-entry-form

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Just the one game this weekend and that was the Canaries v Kempston

Sunday 23rd January 2022 brought us the long anticipated fixture between Canaries and Kempston. Back in November 2021, Kempston managed to secure a late draw in the closing minutes of the game. The Canaries suffered back to back defeats at the start of January so it was time to start looking up and forward. A couple of positional changes and massive overhaul on the formation and the Canaries were ready to start and boy was it going to have some fireworks attached.

The game got underway and it was the Canaries with the early pressure with Edwards and Mercer linking up with Colyer. Kempston looked to break with a quick counter but this was snuffed out by Schofield. GOAL!! HARROWER! Harrower picked up a loose ball on the right cut in and just went sailing past the Kempston keeper and opening the scoring. Kempston responded with a few goal scrambles however Rufaigolu cleared each time. Colyer was sent through but was just beaten to it by an oncoming defender -she was hungry for a goal this afternoon. Amies had a chanced ruled out for offside and Kempston started to get a foot back into the game. With some constructive words from the side-line the Canaries found their stride and piled more pressure onto Kempston who were pegged back in their half, Armstrong made way for Schofield just before the referee blew for half time.

The second half got going and it was the Canaries who again started on the front foot, Joyce and Jarrard having solid games in their respected full back positions held Kempston at bay from progressing down the wings. Wilson poked the ball through to Amies but a Kempston player just did enough to take the ball away. Halfway into the second half many chances fell to the Canaries but sadly we couldn’t find the back of the net. Harrower we hit the bar and forced a save from the Kempston keeper. GOAL!!!! COLYER!! A quick throw from Joyce to Amies who just punted the ball up in the air for the poaching Colyer to round the keeper and rolled it into an empty Kempston net.

Wilson made way for Barratt who started to get in the way of the Kempston defence, keeping their progression up the field to a minimum. Kempston were on the break and Joyce stood firmly in the box and there were claims for handball. The referee waved the appeal off and a player was sent to the sin bin after expressing their frustration at the referee. Joyce was at the thick of it again after some pushing from a Kempston player she won the ball but she landed on her ankle breaking it into two parts. Thank you to XI team member Spang for assisting with the treatment and club captain Chaffey on taking her to hospital. This rocked the Canaries as the flow of play was disturbed and a traumatic incident involving a much loved teammate left them wanting the three points for our Lauren! Kempston threw everything at the Canaries and everyone put their bodies on the line. The game wasn’t over when newly signed Service entered the field of play and nearly scored on her debut.

The whistle went and it was the Canaries who were left flying with the three points after Kempston tried to clip their wings. A phenomenal game where the Canaries played their hearts out, they wore the shirt with pride and played some great football. Today was another fantastic advert for women’s football. We move onto next week, the mission isn’t over yet……

Amies, Edwards & Colyer picked up manager’s player, player’s player.

SUNDAY 30TH JANUARY 2022 – 14.00 

BARTON ROVERS LADIES V HITCHIN TOWN WOMENS FC XI
Barton Rovers FC, Barton

SHERRARDSWOOD LADIES V HITCHIN TOWN WOMENS FC CANARIES
Sherrardswood School, Welwyn Garden City

Keep up to date with all the live scores & fixtures, Twitter @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 22:00, all abilities welcome.

CANARY CLUB NEWS
Do not forget that tonight (Friday28th January) we have Keith George The Boy George Experience at The Canary Club. Tickets have now sold out online but as of last night there were still 22 tickets available to buy from the Canary Club.

BY ROY IZZARD