Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Away specialists Banbury head for Hitchin
Wednesday, October 19 2005
Hitchin come face-to-face with Banbury United on Saturday, a team that enjoys one of the best away records in the Southern League Premier Division.
Kevin Brock’s team have been one of the surprises packages of the season after only just securing their Premier status last term. Despite losing leading scorer Howard Forinton to Halesowen, the Puritans have been in the upper reaches since the first game.
Away from home, Banbury have recorded some impressive results – beating Bath City at Twerton Park 3-0, and beating Grantham and Mangotsfield on their travels.
Their only two league defeats have come at Bedford and a shock setback at home to Chesham. In midweek, Banbury beat Brackley 3-0 in a FA Trophy replay.
Hitchin are still looking for their first league win since August 20, but two clean sheets in three games have boosted morale at Top Field. “The win at Team Bath was vital and its has given us a cracking FA Trophy tie with Bedford to look forward to,” says manager Darren Salton.
Hitchin will have strikers Josh Sozzo and Thomas Hayes back after they both missed last week’s win at Team Bath, and only Lee McCulloch is currently on the injured list.