Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Tough Easter eggs for Hitchin to crack
Sunday, April 4 2004
Hitchin Town face Basingstoke and Bishop's Stortford over the Easter period, hoping for some holiday cheer from two tough games.
The away game at Basingstoke next Saturday provides Canaries fans with a reminder that this season has had some bright spots. When the Hampshire side visited Top Field in August, Robbie O'Keefe's men were top of the league with a 100% record. The game ended 2-2, with Basingstoke scoring a spectacular goal in the dying seconds.
Craig McAllister scored that goal and he is still at the Camrose Ground, despite being court by Football League clubs at various times over the past two years.
Basingstoke are far from guaranteed a place in the top 13 this season and are chasing a place in Conference South. But they have won just four points from the last eight games, so the Canaries should not be daunted by visiting a ground where they have not always fared too well. "We are hoping for three wins in the final six games, including Northwood yesterday, so over the Easter period, we need to perform well, we might be playing Basingstoke at the right time," says Assistant Manager Ian Donnelly.
The popular Donnelly believes that the performance against Thurrock bodes well for the final few games. "We hit rock bottom against Hayes, but at Thurrock, who are chasing second place, we showed a lot of commitment, competed well but just couldn't score a goal."
On Bank Holiday Monday, Hitchin play host to Bishops's Stortford (Kick Off 3pm), and the Canaries will be looking to avenge at Christmas drubbing on the other side of Hertfordshire.
