Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 4 Wivenhoe Town 2
Wednesday, November 5 2003
Despite a plucky second half display by Wivenhoe, Hitchin won through to the Second Round of the FA Trophy in the replay at Top Field.
But Robbie O’Keefe’s side made hard work of disposing of the Ryman First Division side, with victory only sealed in the 89th minute.
Hitchin went ahead after 12 minutes when James Ayres finished off a move that started with a James Osborn free kick. The Canaries almost extended that lead when Stuart Maynard’s fierce shot was cleared off the line by defender Dave Bastian.
In the final minute of the first half, a defensive slip by Ryan Frater was punished by the visitors and Ray Turner equalised from close range.
The second period was far more entertaining, and both sides could have scored early on – Sean Caton for Wivenhoe and Adam Parker for Hitchin with a diving header that was saved by goalkeeper Ryan Robinson.
In the 58th minute, however, Hitchin regained the lead, Chris Dillon shooting home after a Craig Rydeheard cross was deflected in his path by a defender.
Nine minutes later, Parker netted Hitchin’s third goal, running on to a well-flighted pass by Ian Scott and finishing in style.
But the two goal margin lasted just a minute, for Wivenhoe central defender scored with a flying header from a Ross Taylor corner.
Wivenhoe responded with vigour and pressured Hitchin for the rest of the game. Richard Wilmot pulled off good saves from Taylor and Fuller, the latter from a blistering drive from outside of the area. In between those two vital stops, Parker struck the bar with a header.
It was left to Dillon to seal victory with a simple finish after good approach work by Parker and Maynard. The Canaries move on to face Wealdstone away in round two.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Bone, Rydeheard, Frater, Ayres, Evans (Mills 60), Williams, Osborn (Scott 45), Dillon, Parker, Maynard