Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 2 Bognor Regis Town 2
Saturday, December 6 2003
An own goal by centre half Ryan Frater eight minutes from time cruelly denied Hitchin a much needed win against Bognor Regis in Kerry Dixon’s first home game as manager.
Frater’s blunder meant that the visitors had retrieved a two-goal deficit to earn a point after Hitchin had raced into a two-goal half-time lead.
For 45 minutes, the Canaries looked a rejuvenated outfit with plenty of hard work and a very noticeable competitive spirit running through the side.
Dixon would have been proud of the first goal in the 30th minute, scored by Leeyon Phelan, who powerfully headed home a high cross by Matt Childs.
Nine minutes later, Hitchin scored again, Adam Parker dummying for Chris Dillon, who sidestepped a defender before sending a low shot into the net.
Bognor responded in the 49th minute with a good finish by Matt Russell, who hooked home a cross by Michael Birmingham.
Phelan almost restored Hitchin’s two goal advantage in the 60th minute, picking up a loose ball after Parker had lost possession and striking the crossbar with a fierce shot.At the other end, though, Richard Hudson provided a warning for Hitchin when he missed an open goal.
Hitchin had further chances, with Parker seeing his shot cleared off the line and Phelan taking advantage of a poor back pass and flicking wide.
In the 82nd minute, Hudson’s cross was turned in by Frater and in the closing stages, Bognor could have won the day with chances by Michael Birmingham and Russell.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Childs, Rydeheard, Frater, Ayres, Evans, Williams (Mills 85), Phelan (Osborn 67), Dillon, Parker (Drew 87), Maynard
