Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Down to Devon for Hitchin on opening day
Tuesday, August 15 2006
Hitchin make a 200-mile journey to Tiverton on Saturday as the British Gas Business League gets underway.
The Canaries ended last season against Tiverton, beating them 3-2, but lost on their last visit to Ladysmead by 6-2.
Hitchin manager Darren Salton is in confident mood as the league campaign finally begins. “We have had a good pre-season – I am satisfied with our fitness level and the squad I have. I am very confident we will have a successful season,” he said.
But he is aware that Hitchin have a tough start. “We have some difficult fixtures in the first few weeks, but this will provide the ideal test for our players and help us gauge how far we’ve progressed.”
Salton hopes to field his full strength side and is hoping that both Gavin Jaggard and Carl Williams recover from knocks received at Salisbury in the Southern League Championship Cup game on August 5.
Tiverton have had an uneasy few months, with the loss of key players and some strong criticism of long-serving manager Martyn Rogers. Then former Bristol City defender received a blow this week when striker Nathan Pepperell joined Bath City after Rogers had trailed the youngster for weeks. Jamie Mudge, who scored a hat-trick against the Canaries in that 6-2 defeat last December, is doubtful for the game due to injury.
Tiverton v Hitchin
Previous Meetings:
2004-05: Tiverton 1 Hitchin 3
2005-06: Tiverton 6 Hitchin 2