Hitchin Town Youth Football Club
An FA Charter Standard Development Club
Hitchin Town Thunder U12 v Letchworth GCE Yellow U12
Sunday, September 14 2008
Some tremendous defensive performances were the highlight of Hitchin's second game in the top division of the Royston Crow League.
Letchworth will feel unlucky not to have come away with all three points after dominating most of the second half, but Hitchin are clearly still finding their way at this level and went into the game with key players missing, plus a much smaller squad than their rival.
The young Canaries were without last season's top scorer, so will be delighted to have held one of the best teams in the division - coming back from a goal down in the process.
Letchworth scored first down the left after a misplaced pass allowed their forward to race clear and finish neatly into the corner.
A combative match saw both sets of players working hard to win the ball and Hitchin's gritty response was followed by Liam Sweeney's wonderful lobbed equaliser after being put through by Paddy Stanton.
Just before half-time Hitchin nearly went in front when a thunderbolt from Jake Alderson was brilliantly saved by Letchworth's keeper.
But the second half was one way traffic, as Hitchin struggled in midfield. Defenders Michael Williams, man of the match Ollie Payne, Alfie Dinsey, Paddy Stanton and sub Simmy Dhillon worked tirelessly to repel attack after attack.
On a hot day, the ball was failing to stick to our forwards and lessons will have been learned about work rate levels required if HItchin are to make an impact in this league.
There was a real scare near the end, as the ball was cleared off the line twice in one scramble, but the back four got their reward as the final whistle blew and a point was claimed.
Improvement needed, but four points from the first two games is still an excellent start to the season.
Final score: Hitchin Town Thunder 1 Letchworth GCE Yellow 1