Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 0 Luton Town 0
Saturday, July 19 2003
Hitchin put on their best display of their pre-season programme so far to hold Football League Division Two side Luton to a goalless draw at Top Field.
With Luton's future far from certain, the Kenilworth Road club's supporters made up the majority in the 858 crowd, an excellent attendance for a friendly.
The Canaries showed great determination throughout, with Ryan Frater and Joe Bruce outstanding at the back. The entire team looked fitter and had more cohesion than in previous games.
As early as the first minute, Carl Drew went close with a shot across goal after a good through ball by Carl Williams. In the opening half hour, Hitchin looked in better shape than Luton, who were extremely rusty.
It was not until the half hour mark that Luton carved out an opening, Bayliss heading wide from Coyne's cross. Then Howard chipped just over James Robinson's goal.
Hitchin's best chance fell to Anthony Francis, who struck the post with 20 minutes remaining.
Luton finished the stronger side, however. Robinson pulled off a fine double save from Tony Thorpe and Stuart O'Leary and near the end, Thorpe was again denied when the Hitchin goalkeeper blocked his flicked effort.
A draw was a fair result, and of far greater satisfaction to Hitchin than Luton, who on the evidence of this work-out, have a lot to do in the remaining few weeks before the season proper starts.
Hitchin: Robinson, Bruce (Bone), Rydeheard(Mills), Frater (Harvey)< Ayres (Childs), Scott (Yigo), Williams (Maynard), Brennan (McElroy), Drew (Dillon), Parker (Francis), Osborn (Evans)