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Basement battle ahead

Sunday, December 7 2003

Both Hitchin and Harrow may have something to prove when they come face to face next Saturday at Earlsmead.

The Canaries and their hosts are both under new management after poor first halves of the season. Both clubs are drifting away from the top 13 and need to regain some form if they are to win a place in next season's Conference South.

But it was all so different when the two clubs last met on the opening day of the season. Harrow raced into a two goal lead but Hitchin clinched victory with an injury time goal from Chris Dillon. It was the first of three straight wins for the Canaries, who at the time under the tutelage of Ian Donnelly as Robbie O'Keefe was absent. After three games, Donnelly took Hitchin to the top of the table, winning him massive kudos with the club's fans.

Harrow have struggled for the past four seasons under Eddie Stein and after poor form this time around, he was asked to stand down. Stein and his replacement,.are both Barry Fry acolytes and in the late 1990s, were involved at Baldock Town.

Last season, Hitchin were beaten 2-0 at Earlsmead, but won 1-0 at Top Field, a game that secured the Canaries' Premier division place for this season.