Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Basingstoke Town 2 Hitchin Town 3
Sunday, April 11 2004
Hitchin ended the worst sequence in their history with a shock but deserved victory at Basingstoke’s Camrose Ground.
Missing six key players, Hitchin worked hard for their first win since late January. And it all started to go right in the ninth minute when Stuart Maynard passed through to in-form Darran Hay, who shot home from close range.
Three minutes later, the Canaries stunned the home crowd with a second goal from an unlikely source. Once more, Maynard was the provider, sending a free kick into the area for Jim Duffy to head home at the far post.
But Basingstoke mounted a stirring comeback, starting with a 21st minute goal by Craig McAllister, who took advantage of a defensive slip to head over Wilmot.
McAllister set up Basingstoke’s second goal in the 23rd minute. The sought-after striker outpaced Matt Childs and crossed and Duffy, who 11 minutes earlier had been the hero, put through his own goal.
Still Basingtoke wouldn’t give up, however, and Sergio Torres had two good chances to score. Neville Roach was also denied by Wilmot after a good run.
Hitchin ended the first half in the ascendancy, with Glen Lamacraft and Darran Hay both going close. And in stoppage time, Dean McElroy restored Hitchin’s lead when he forced the ball home from close range from a Ryan Nicholl cross.
Wilmot came to Hitchin’s rescue in the early stages of the second period when he saved again from Roach and Cristian Lewis struck a post with a header.
But Hitchin also had their opportunities to extend their lead, notably with shots by Lamacraft and Nicholl.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Neill, Duffy, Burke, Childs, Lamacraft, Nicholl, Maynard, Hay (Hassan 73), Lochhead, McElroy
