Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Kettering Town 1

Saturday, March 13 2004

An 83rd minute goal by Kettering substitute Michael McKenzie denied Hitchin what would have been their first win since mid-January.

The Canaries could argue, with some justification, that they deserved to end their current run, enjoying the lion’s share of the game and certainly having the best chances of the 90 minutes.

In a lack-lustre first half, Hitchin could have taken the lead after 14 minutes, Gavin Jaggard trying to flick the ball past Kettering goalkeeper Mark Bunn. Kettering’s best chance fell to Paul Fewings, who’s near-post header went just wide of the target.

But just before the interval, Hitchin had two chances to go ahead, Darran Hay’s shot was blocked by Bunn and Mark Bridge volleyed into the side-netting.

After the interval, Hitchin continued to dominate with Paul Covington and Mark Bridge both sending headers goalwards. Bridge’s effort, which was cleared off the line, prompted an appeal from both crowd and home side that the ball had crossed the line.

Hitchin deservedly took the lead in the 60th minute, Hay heading home from a Stuart Maynard long throw.

Kettering made a triple substitution in order to invigorate their side and it seemed to work. Nine minutes from the end, McKenzie netted a tame equaliser after Richard Wilmot had done well to stop Craig McIlwaine’s header.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Bone, Childs, Neill, Covington, Scott (Nicholl 83), Jaggard, Lochhead, Bridge, Hay (Duffy 73), Maynard

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