Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 1 Northwood 2
Saturday, April 3 2004
Hitchin are now embroiled in the worst-ever run in their long history. Thirteen games without a win was reached in their home defeat at the hands of similarly struggling Northwood at Top Field.
But the margin between victory and defeat was very narrow in this game. Hitchin had the chances and could have avoided another loss. There was an early setback, however, when Northwood took the lead in the 16th minute. A low cross by Mark Nicholls was turned in by Alistair Heselton with Hitchin appealing for offside.
Darran Hay’s aerial ability caused countless problems for Northwood in the first half. Three times he went close to scoring, notably when he forced Northwood goalkeeper Lee Carroll to tip his header over the bar.
Hay levelled for Hitchin in the 47th minute with the Northwood defence caught off guard. The ball seemed to be going out of play but Jim Duffy headed it forward and Hay, on his own, ran on to slide his shot past Carroll.
Hitchin grew in confidence and Mark Burke – with a near post header – and Ian Scott with a long range shot, almost gave them the lead.
But it was Northwood that regained the initiative. Heselton should have been checked as he ran from the byline and into the heart of the Hitchin defence. Despite some lunging challenges, he sent a bobbling shot past Wilmot from just inside the penalty area.
Six minutes from time, Hitchin felt they should have had a penalty when Bilal Hassan was upended. Despite pleas from the home side, the referee waved play on.
Hitchin; Wilmot, Neill, Duffy, Burke, Frater (Childs h/t), Burke, Frater, Scott, Jaggard (Lamacraft 37), Maynard, Hay, Lochhead, Hassan
