Hitchin Town Youth Football Club
An FA Charter Standard Development Club
Hitchin Town Reds U10 2 Barton Rovers U10 3
Saturday, September 30 2006
This match between the two best sides in their Chiltern Junior 7s league qualifying group saw a stirring display by Hitchin that impressed everyone despite a crazy start.
After dominating the first few minutes and going very close to scoring, Hitchin were caught on the break and went 1-0 down.
Hitchin pressed again and won a penalty for handball, only for Jake's spot-kick to be saved by the increasingly impressive Barton keeper.
It was end-to-end stuff now, but Barton took their chances. They went 2-0 up and then 3-0 from a short corner. This was not a fair reflection of play and Hitchin quickly made it 1-3 when Cameron drilled into the far corner.
Just before half-time, man of the match Paddy ran from deep all the way into the Barton box and only a last ditch Barton tackle could stop him.
In the second half, Hitchin took control with a series of shots from the forwards and eventually made it 2-3 when Cameron blasted home from a perfect Jake pass.
Hitchin then seemed to have completed the comeback, and were set to go on and win the match, when yet another Cameron shot came back to Liam, who saw his effort go in off the crossbar.
The equaliser at last? Controversy erupted as the goal was disallowed, with Barton making protests over a substitution - despite the fact that the sub was on the pitch and the referee had re-started the game.
Hitchin kept their heads up and dominated more than ever, with Liam playing his best game of the season so far and the Barton keeper making save after save. And when the keeper wasn't there the woodwork was.
But it all ended 2-3. A disappointing result that does not reflect the fact that Hitchin should have won the game. Management, players and spectators on both sides know that.
Hitchin defend ..