Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 0 Hornchurch 2
Wednesday, March 24 2004
Hitchin crashed to their eighth defeat in 10 games against a fast-moving and physical Hornchurch side at Top Field.
Although the result was never in doubt, Hitchin recovered from a first half in which they conceded two goals to make life more difficult for the visitors. Plus points might have been hard to find, but there were good cameo performances from Stuart Lochhead and veteran defender Mark Burke.
Hitchin were under pressure from the start, however, and old boy Andy Douglas went close to opening the scoring in the third minute. But it was not until the 20th minute when Hornchurch went ahead, a shot by Keith Rowland rattled the crossbar and Vinnie John was on hand to score from close range.
Fifteen minutes later, Hornchurch added to their lead, Jamie Southon diving to head home from a Scott Gooding free kick.
In the space of a minute before the break, Hornchurch could have doubled their lead, but Stuart Maynard headed off the line from Southon and goalkeeper Richard Wilmot tipped a header from the Adam Locke over the bar.
Hitchin fans must have feared an emphatic final result, but their side tightened up and worked hard to restrict Hornchurch to a few half chances. In fact, Burke with a header over the bar and a Lochhead shot following a scramble could have reduced the deficit.
In this dismal run of results, the only consolation for a depleted and under-strength Hitchin is that there was no lack of effort and the season is thankfully coming to an end.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Childs, Evans (Lamacraft 82), Burke, Covington (McElroy 71), Scott, Nicholl, Lochhead, Madagah (Mills 82), Hay, Maynard
