Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hendon 3 Hitchin Town 0
Sunday, November 9 2003
Hitchin manager Robbie O’Keefe was angry after his side’s mini-revival floundered at Claremont Road on Saturday.
O’Keefe believed his side lacked leadership, passion and any belief in its ability to win the game at Hendon. "This was one of our worst displays of the season," said a fuming O’Keefe after the game.
So inept was Hitchin’s performance that they did not trouble Hendon goalkeeper Dave King all afternoon. But it was from a poor goal kick by King’s opposite number, Richard Wilmot that the home side opened the scoring in the 19th minute.
Wilmot’s kick was intercepted and played forward to Andy Cook, who scored from close range. It could have been two-nil just afterwards when the woodwork was struck by Ricci Crace.
O’Keefe introduced former Wycombe striker Leeyon Phelan at half-time, but the Canaries’ taks was made harder in the 51st minute when Scott Cousins scored with a 20-yard shot. In the 64th minute, Hendon scored their third goal, Crace shooting across goal and just inside Wilmot’s far post.
Wilmot prevented Hendon from adding to their tally, saving well from Dale Binns and twice from Cousins. Hitchin failed to muster up any sort of response.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Bone (Mills 60), Rydeheard, Frater, Ayres, Evans, Williams, Abbott, Dillon, Parker (Bridge 82), Maynard (Phelan h/t)