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HURRICANES WIN ROYSTON CROW TROPHY

Sunday, May 23 2010

On a sweltering day in Stevenage, the boys put the County Cup final behind them to win the Royston Crow U9 Trophy and end the season on a high.

Hitchin kicked off with a 1-0 win over Hitchin-based FC Comets. They dominated the game but wasted a few chances and had shots saved by the Comets' excellent keeper. The breakthrough came just after half-time when Sam K showed great skill to work some space and put in a great left-wing cross – Joel converted the chance at the far post.

In Game 2, Hitchin got off to a flier as Sam K's mazy run and finish put them 1-0 ahead in the first minute. Despite dominating possession, they couldn't find the killer second goal but hung on to make it two wins out of two. Letchworth Reds had also won both games so the final match would decide who would top the group. In a close game, two great first half finishes from Letchworth sealed the 2-0 win.

This meant Hitchin would join 7 other teams to contest the Trophy. In the quarter finals, they met Stevenage Colts and triumphed 2-0 with goals from Joel (a sharp turn and finish) and Ryan (far-post finish from a Sam K cross) to set up a semi-final against Welwyn. Once again, Hitchin dominated but couldn't breach the Welwyn defence in normal time and extra time (and penalties) loomed. Up stepped Sam K to score a quick fire 6 minute hat-trick (including two wonderful looping volleys) and clinch a final place against Sawbridgeworth.

The final followed a familiar pattern - lots of Hitchin pressure and possession but struggling to convert half-chances. But, with extra-time looming, Joel came off the bench to take a short pass from Sam K and drive a shot through a crowded penalty box - a slight deflection wrong-footed the Sawbo keeper to make it 1-0 with two minutes to go.

The boys hung on and sealed a richly deserved triumph that is a well-deserved reward for a season of genuine progress. Sam Hen was solid in goal; Patrick, Jonathan, Morgan and Sam Hart were rock-solid in defence, conceding just 2 goals in 6 games. Ryan, Kane, William helped the team dominate every game and Somerset, Vinay, Joel and Sam K provided the cutting edge up front.

Squad - Sam Hen, Patrick, Sam Hart, William, Kane, Sam K, Joel, Somerset, Morgan, Jonathan, Vinay and Ryan