WEEKLY BULLETIN – 30TH SEPTEMBER
FIXTURES
- Saturday Ist October No game as we are not in the FA Cup. However there will then be four successive home games as follows–
- Monday 3rd October Home to Welwyn Garden City Herts Senior Cup kick-off 7.45pm. As this is a cup game all season ticket holders will need to purchase a ticket online. Prices for this game are as follows—Adults £8 Concessions £5 Teenagers £2 Children under 13 £1 Over 80’s free.
- Saturday 8th October Home to Redditch FA Trophy kick-off 3.00pm. Normal prices apply and again season ticket holders must purchase a ticket online as we have to share the gate receipts.
- Monday 10th October Home to Leiston League kick-off 7.45pm.
- Saturday 15th October Home to Hednesford League kick-off 3.00pm.
Tickets for all four games are now available online.
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
STOURBRIDGE
On Saturday we made our longest journey of the season to Stourbridge. I think a combination of this three-hour journey and the fact that four players were making their first start of the season saw us get off to a very slow start and we conceded two early goals. But as the game went on I saw a big improvement and the team was beginning to gel as we finished the first half strongly.
We built on this with a very positive second half performance. We had a great opportunity to get a goal back and had we scored I really felt we would have gone on to get a point. However the chance was spurned and we were punished late on with a third goal by Stourbridge.
ST IVES
I made a couple of changes for Monday’s game with St Ives partly because of the effects of Saturday’s long journey and also because a number of players were lacking game time so it would have been hard for them to play two games in three days. I thought the changes would re-energise the team and help us build on the positive second half performance at Stourbridge.
St Ives came in to the game in very good form and high in the table and their confidence was shown in the way they started the game. They put us under a lot of pressure and deservedly took the lead. I was very impressed by our reaction to this setback and we grew in to the game. Finley Wilkinson scored a fine goal and we were level at half time.
We came out attacking our favourite Fishponds Road end in the second half and I thought we were the better team. Our performance had the balance I was looking for as we had tight defending and creative attacking play. Overall I was pleased with the point and this will hopefully signal the start of an unbeaten run.
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
We will train on Saturday morning to prepare for Monday’s Herts Senior Cup tie with Welwyn Garden City. Certain players still need recuperation time before returning but we will treat this game very seriously and will be going all out to win and keep our momentum going.
MARK BURKE
PLAYER NEWS
- Rio Dasilva is close to a return to the squad.
- Steve Cawley faces a fitness test on Monday.
- Lewis Barker returns to the squad after suspension.
- Jack Morrell has returned to light training.
- Aaron Pike has returned to full training.
MERCHANDISE UPDATE
Please remember to visit the club shop at one of the upcoming games. There is a wide range of items available including the new green baseball caps. If you cannot get to the games please visit the online club shop.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNDER 18’S
The reward for our under 18’s beating Bugbrooke St Michaels away from home on Thursday in the FA Youth Cup is a home tie in the third qualifying round against Chesterfield. The game is scheduled to be played in the week commencing 10th October so please watch our social media outlets for confirmation of the date. A report of the Bugbrooke game is in the academy update.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Wednesday 28th September our development team started their league campaign with a 1-0 victory over Norwich RDP. Despite dominating the whole match the lads wasted numerous opportunities to take the game away from the visitors. Late on substitute James Emmerson who was making his debut popped up with the winner. All in all a deserved victory for the development squad.
FA YOUTH CUP
On Thursday 29th September we travelled to Bugbrooke St Michaels in the FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round. We were looking for revenge after last year’s 6-0 defeat in the previous round.
The players had all been superb in the previous two games but unfortunately on the night we got off to a very sloppy start and this allowed Bugbrooke to take an early lead. We were still trying to get into the game despite having all the pressure, a long ball over the defence allowed Bugbrooke to take their chance 1v1 and make the score 2-0. Despite playing nowhere near our level of ability/standard we did create some very good chances and knew we were still in the game and despite wasting these opportunities Torin Ntege managed to reduce the deficit in the 40th minute after some find individual play. On the stroke of half time we had the chance to go level but unfortunately we did not take it.
2nd half it was a better start from the young Canaries and all the play was in the attacking half but we were unable to take the pressure and chances and convert them into goals but Torin Ntege after some fine individual work again, he was fouled in the box and he stepped up and converted the penalty. This opened the game up and chances were now happening at both ends and with the last kick of the game Torin Ntege missed a 1-1 however this was not to be costly as he converted the 5th penalty to send us into the next round.
Final score 2-2 (4- 2 Pens)
LUTON TOWN UNDER 23’S AT TOP FIELD
On Tuesday 4th October we host Luton Town Under 23’s v Farnborough kick-off 1.00pm. We would prefer tickets to be purchased online—adults £4, concessions £2, under 18’s £1, over 80’s free but you can pay by card or cash on the gate for this game.
HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
This week it was finally the return to the BHWFL. Both teams had games and this is how they got on.
The Firsts were away to Bedford Town Development and this is what Callum had to say— ‘So it was finally the first game of the season for the Firsts. After having their first game postponed and then receiving a bye into the next round of the Herts Womens Cup it was time to get the ball rolling.
The Firsts were up against Bedford Town Development at Kempston Rovers FC. The stage was set, the sun was out and it was truly going to be a hard fought battle for three points. The game got started and it was the Firsts on point, setting up camp within the Bedford half. Goal Hitchin! Radford opened the scoring after a lay off by Beary!
Bedford started to push back on the Firsts and levelled the scoring from a ball that was just out of reach of Nemeth.
Goal Hitchin! Beary got on the score sheet having twisted and turned into the box. She fired into the far corner of the net. Goal Hitchin! Barely restarted and Day smashes from 25 yards over the Bedford keeper. Half time and the Firsts are flying.
Bedford in the second half had run out of ideas. They were trying to take some hold of the game but the link up play between each player of the Firsts left Bedford chasing shadows. Goal Hitchin! Radford fired a shot from 20 yards. PENALTY! Watson tripped and the referee awards the spot kick. GOAL! Radford fires to the keeper’s left! Bedford were exhausted and it showed. Huffer & Piper kept a solid line as Bedford could be dangerous on the breakthrough the middle. Keller & Watson were enjoying lots of space on the left. Goal Hitchin! Radford from 30 yards drills it past the keeper and the referee blows for full time.
The Firsts go top of the table; however it is very early days to get carried away. Lots of positives to take out of today. Each player should be proud of the performance they put in. ‘
The Canaries were away to Flitwick Eagles Ladies and manager Jamie had this to say ‘Hitchin ladies VS Flitwick ladies.
The league season returned, and our fixture was against Flitwick Eagles. The sun was out, and the Canaries were looking to build on the win over Knebworth the week before.
We started off really well with some brilliant passing and triangle work. The Canaries dominated the flow of play and the possession.
After a bit of a mess in the middle of the park Harrower won the ball back and ran down the left-hand side cut in on her right foot GOAL in the second minute. Curling it into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the penalty area.
15 minutes into the game the Canaries win a corner on the right-hand side H. Edwards whips the ball into the area and this is met by an amazing header from Harrower again!
Flitwick started to wake up and they started playing better we lost the ball in the middle of the park and the ball was played out to the winger who cut in and slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 1-2.
Hitchin then let their heads drop and started playing long balls and losing the ball in the air and we then conceded another goal before the break. To make it 2-2…
Then we conceded a soft free kick 25 yards from the goal which is put into the far corner of the goal by Flitwick’s free kick taker. 3-2
After this the Hitchin heads began to drop on the half time mark.
Half time
In the second half Hitchin came out with a new lease of life with Chaffey tapping in at the far post. However Flitwick responded adding their fourth. Flitwick added their fifth with a questionable penalty. As the game went on the Canaries were struggling to keep up with the pace of play by Flitwick and they added their sixth.
Hard result to take off the back of such an amazing performance against Knebworth last week however we go again next week 💛💚
Management team player: Harrower
Players player: C.Edwards & Amies’
FIXTURES
Beds & Herts Women’s Football League
HTWFC Firsts v Oaklands Ladies
Buntingford Ladies v HTWFC Canaries
Keep up to date with all the live scores & fixtures, Twitter @HitchinTownWFC or on Facebook, Hitchin Town Womens FC
We are currently recruiting new sponsors to help us cement our future. We are looking for sponsors to help us develop a women’s club to be the best in Hertfordshire. Please get in touch for further information.
BY ROY IZZARD