Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin must be on their game at Haverhill
Thursday, September 27 2007
Hitchin Town's management duo is expecting a tough afternoon at Haverhill when the Canaries travel to Hamlet Croft for their FA Cup second qualifying round tie.
“We’ve watched them twice and we are anticipating a difficult game,” said Assistant Manager Ken Gillard. “We have to be on our game – if we are not, Haverhill will fancy their chances.”
With last season’s FA Cup game with Haverhill’s fellow Eastern Counties League members Saffron Walden fresh in the memory, Gillard and Darren Salton are taking no chances. “If we were in their position, we’d be confident of creating an upset, so we won’t be taking them lightly,” said Gillard.
Salton, meanwhile, is expecting a warm welcome. “There is a nice feel to the club, a friendly place and they are looking to get a big crowd, so it could be a real cracker of a cup-tie.”
Haverhill won 4-0 in midweek but are a mid-table side in the Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Premier. They went out of the FA Vase last weekend, losing 2-4 at home to Leiston. They have experience in their side, notably former Kings Lynn goalkeeper Aaron Benstead and much travelled defender Colin Vowden, who has played against Hitchin on a number of occasions.
Hitchin will be without the suspended Jon Stevenson, one of the heroes of the previous round at Harrow Borough.