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Play-off defeat underlines the Hitchin condition

Friday, May 7 2004

Hitchin Town's season finally ended at Bedford in a heated local derby play-off, a game which really summed up their entire campaign.

Once more, the Canaries were found wanting when it mattered, but Hitchin fans would be kidding themselves if they truly believed that a place in the Conference South was a just reward for a troubled season characterised by upheaval.

The line-up at Bedford said it all, only Matt Childs started the first game of the season against Harrow and Ryan Frater and Ian Scott were the sole survivors of the 13 players that appeared on that steamy afternoon. During the course of the season, virtually an entire squad drove out of the Top Field car park, in much the same way that Andy Douglas left in September. Almost 50 players were used in the course of the season.

It was the departure of Douglas, seen as a pre-season coup, that sparked off the club's downward spiral. Although Hitchin topped the table after three games, an early FA Cup exit at Folkestone meant that strategies had to be rethought. Sadly, manager Robbie O'Keefe decided to leave, a decision that affected Hitchin more than most would care to admit. Kerry Dixon came in and simultaneously, the O'Keefe era was ushered out, player-by-player.

New signings failed to lift Hitchin and between January 24th and April 3rd a run of two points from a possible 39 sent the Canaries into a tail-spin. It was the worst run in the club's history. Moreover, goals dried up, from January to the end of the season, just 22 were scored in 21 games.

A late flurry, three wins in the last five games, surprisingly pushed them into the play-offs, but an energetic and passionate Bedford side merely reminded Hitchin that much repair work to the club's playing resources is needed if the Canaries are to compete in the Isthmian or Southern League Premier next season.

Stuart Maynard made more appearances than any other Hitchin player, 51 in total including 40 league games. Darran Hay was the leading league scorer with seven goals, but mid-season departure Chris Dillon was top marksman overall with 12. Special mention must be made of Glen Lamacraft, who played almost 90 games for Hitchin, for the first team, reserves and youth teams.