Hitchin Town Football Club

Crunch game for title aspirants: Slough v Hitchin

Monday, January 25 2010

Hitchin travel to Beaconsfield on Saturday (January 30) for the second time this season, on this occasion to face title-chasing Slough for one of the critical games of the campaign.

Slough remain one of the sides to beat in the Zamaretto Midlands Division, possessing a squad packed with experience and talent. Although the Canaries beat the Bucks side 3-2 earlier this season, there is little doubt that the Rebels represent one of the biggest obstacles for Colin Payne’s men.

Slough are bang in form, with six wins from eight games and are brimming with confidence after their 4-1 win at Stourport at the weekend. Furthermore, they have been strengthening their side in recent weeks, signing Sean Sonner from Boreham Wood, Dean Clark from landlords Beaconsfield and Dwain Clark from Aldershot.

Hitchin are still five points ahead of Slough and have played the same number of games. The two clubs’ playing records are similar- both have scored 44 goals and both are good at home. Slough have lost twice at Holloways Park, the most recent a 0-1 reverse at the hands of Bury Town. Hitchin have lost once away from home – a 2-3 defeat at Soham.

The first meeting between the two clubs in October was an exhilarating affair, with Hitchin coming out on top after Slough had retrieved a two-goal deficit. The game at Beaconsfield looks set to be equally exciting, with the home side out for revenge and aiming to close the gap. “This is a massive game, but the title won’t be decided in January and there will be plenty of other vital games in the coming weeks. It’s one we are looking forward to,” said Colin Payne.

Past meetings
Home: P 26, W 13, D 4, L 9, Goals 48-40
Away:  P 25. W 8, D 3, L 14, Goals 32-50
Total:  P 51, W 21, D 7, L 23, Goals 80-90

Recent games
1999-00: Hitchin 1 Slough 2; Slough 3 Hitchin 0
2000-01: Hitchin 3 Slough 0; Slough 0 Hitchin 3
2001-02: Isthmian League Cup – Slough 0 Hitchin 1
2009-10: Hitchin 3 Slough 2

Current form
Hitchin: L, W, W, W, D, D
Slough: W,W, L, W, D, W

Squads
Slough (from): Perks, Sweeney, Murphy, Kean, Bowden-Haase, Dean Clark, Sinclair, Herron, Martin, Buchanan, Edgeworth, Sonner, Sealey, Dwain Clark, Jeffrey, Jackson
Hitchin (from): Bennett, Fontenelle, Pepper, Smith, Payne, Gilbert, Grinham, Williams, Lewis, Lee, L.Donnelly, Burke, Howell, Hunt, Hammond, Arlick