
WEEKLY BULLETIN FROM ROY
FIXTURE
Saturday 9 February away to Coalville League kick off 3:00pm. The coach leaves at 10:30am.
The Herts charity Cup semi final with Royston that was due to take place on Wednesday 13 February has been postponed due to Royston being in League Cup action.
REARRANGED FIXTURES
With recent postponements there have been some changes to the fixture list as follows:
- Tuesday 19 February home to Royston Town Herts Charity Cup kick off
7:45pm. - Wednesday 27 February away to Letchworth Garden City Eagles Vince Paige Trophy kick off 7:30pm.
- Wednesday 6 March home to Tamworth League kick off 7:45pm.
- Wednesday 20 March home to Coalville League kick off 7:45pm.
PLAYER NEWS
- Elliot Bailey has been transferred to Welwyn Garden City. We thank him for his past service and wish him well for the future.
- Lukas Didik, a Slovakian midfielder, is currently training with the first team and it is hoped he will be signing on once International Clearance has been received. Lukas trained with the Club in the summer.
- Matt Nolan has had an operation but hopes to be back in action before the end of the season.
- Michael Cain is now fit and available for selection at Coalville.
- Scott Belgrove should be fit for Coalville after various nagging injuries.
- Ezra Forde will not be fit for Coalville but is progressing well.
NORTH HERTS FM CHANNEL
Please note that all future live commentaries will now be hosted on North Herts FM Extra, a new station created especially for live events such as us. This can be reached on the same link as normal, it’ll just be a matter of hitting play on the “North Herts FM Extra” channel on their website instead.
HITCHIN TOWN LADIES FC
The Ladies game fell to the weather last Sunday. They do not play this weekend either.
EJA REPORT
The U18s made it four wins in a row with a 5-0 home win over Grays Athletic in the EJA U18 League to remain unbeaten this year. Shaun Dowler bagged another 2 goals to take his tally to 8 goals in 3 games, with Josh Adams, Ant Nygro and James (JT) Thompson chipping in with a goal each.
Our U14s, who reached the final of the Hertfordshire FA County Cup last season, were undone by bad luck in the q/final this time around against Oaklands Wolves Reds on Sunday.
The game was switched from Ickleford Sports & Recreation Club to the 3G pitch at The Baldock Arena to ensure the game could be played.
After a fantastic effort by the players’ parents and The Arena staff to clear the pitch of snow, the game went ahead 15 minutes late.
Hitchin went straight on the attack from the first whistle, dominating the first half and creating a number of good scoring opportunities only to be foiled by the crossbar on two occasions and the Oaklands’ goalkeeper who was forced into two excellent saves.
Richard Kusorgbor was enjoying himself running the midfield for Hitchin before being forced to leave the field through injury 5 minutes before the break, following a bad tackle by an Oaklands player.
The second half was a much more even affair although Hitchin again had the best of the scoring opportunities, hitting the crossbar twice more and forcing the Oaklands goalkeeper into yet another two excellent saves.
However, they were hit by a sucker punch when our goalkeeper dropped the ball under pressure following a corner and an Oaklands player was on hand to toe-poke the ball home.
Hitchin went in search of the equaliser but were out of luck again when a half-volley from Teague Gardiner hit the crossbar with the Oaklands goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Despite laying siege to the Oaklands goal in the last 5 minutes of the match, Hitchin couldn’t force the ball over the line and the game ended 1-0 to Oaklands Wolves.
A big shout out to the match officials, referee John Robertson and his assistants Harry Histed and Sarah King who were all excellent.
Upcoming Fixtures
Our U16s are away to Grays Athletic in an EJA Yellow League fixture on Sunday in Winchmore Hill , kickoff 10:30 am.
Our U13s travel the short distance to The Valley in Stevenage on Sunday, to face Biggleswade Town in the EJA Blue League with a 10:30 am kickoff.
Our U14s, who have not yet played an EJA League fixture so far this year due to cup commitments, have two more cup fixtures this week. In the first fixture on Sunday, they are away to AFC Hornchurch in the EJA U14 Challenge Cup 3rd round at the London Marathon Playing Fields, 2pm kickoff. The winner will face Bishops Stortford in the q/final.
They then finish the week with a home tie on Friday, 15th February against Bury Town in the EJA Midweek Cup with a 7:30pm kickoff at Top Field.
Our U18s don’t have a fixture this week.
NICK CARR
HITCHIN TOWN UNDER 19’S
The academy team had an excellent victory over Bishops Stortford on Wednesday. They were 2-0 up, 3-2 down and won 4-3 in the last minute. Goal scorers were Aiden Wright and Charlie Moss with two goals each.
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
While we have had a two week lay- off playing wise we have not missed a training session. We trained last Saturday at the Arena alongside Baldock Town and also trained on Monday and Thursday. The rest has benefitted certain players who were suffering from various knocks and has helped their recuperation.
COALVILLE TOWN
On Saturday we visit Coalville in Leicestershire for our first ever visit. Coalville are a team in good form at present and are real play-off contenders but we will be looking to continue our momentum despite the two week lay -off.
MEET THE MANAGER EVENING
I felt it was a very productive meet the manager evening. I was able to review the season in detail and explain some of the tactical changes we have recently made. I always like the idea that true supporters are able to ask their questions and hopefully gain a better understanding of the club.
ROY IZZARD