Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 5 Potters Bar Town 0
Sunday, August 3 2003
Hitchin coasted to victory in this hastily-arranged friendly with Spartan South Midlands League side Potters Bar.
The home side fielded most of their likely starting line-up for the new season and the gulf between the two teams was obvious from the first whistle.
Hitchin opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Craig Rydeheard swept the ball home after Chris Dillon’s effort was deflected invitingly in his path.
Six minute later, Andy Douglas extended Hitchin’s lead, pushing the ball over the line after Adam Parker had met an Ian Scot free kick.
Dillon and James Osborne looked impressive and both players went close to adding to Hitchin’s tally.
Dillon was instrumental in his side’s third goal after 42 minutes. A fierce shot from an acute angle was turned into the net by hapless defender Paul Wackett.
Within a minute, the Canaries had netted their fourth goal, a header by Parker from Carl Williams’ cross.
After the interval, the pace slackened in the intense heat. Douglas tried to round goalkeeper Ricky Dean, but was stopped in his tracks, and Stuart Maynard shot over after good work by Dillon.
Potters Bar came more into the game and both Jeff Cross and Lee Talbot had chances to score.
The in-form Dillon spurned the opportunity to get on the scoresheet when he missed a penalty in the 79th minute.
But six minute from time Hitchin score their fifth goal, Parker heading his second from Osborn’s free kick.
Hitchin: Graham, Frater (Maynard 60), Coll, Osborn, Ayres (Childs 68), Scott (Duffy 66), Williams (McElroy 60), Dillon, Douglas, Parker, Rydeheard
