Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 2 Sutton United 4

Saturday, February 14 2004

Hitchin crashed to their fourth successive defeat when they were beaten by an in-form Sutton side that didn’t have to work hard for their three points.

Two penalties and a catalogue of defensive errors contributed to Hitchin’s downfall on the day that defender Jon Bone broke the club’s Isthmian League appearance record.

Bone made his 532nd league game for the Canaries, one more than long-time skipper Mark Burke who was on the bench for this game.

Hitchin started well, however, with Darran Hay and Mark Bridge both going close. Ryan Nicholl also had an opportunity to score, but his shot went into the side-netting.

Sutton took the lead, though in the 41st minute from the penalty spot. Matt Hanlan was tripped in the area and Nick Bailey stepped up to beat Richard Wilmot. Just 60 seconds later, Bridge equalised when he forced the ball over the line from a pin-point Ian Scott cross.

There was still time for Sutton to regain the lead in first half injury time. Matt Fowler, who scored five times in midweek, turned the ball home after Hanlan’s shot from a corner.

Sutton extended their lead in the 51st minute, a Tobi Jinadu free-header from a corner finding the back of the net. But for saves by Wilmot from Bailey and Fowler, Sutton’s lead would have been emphatic.

Hitchin were given some hope in the 74th minute when Rory Hutton scored, but six minutes later, Bailey netted his second penalty after Wilmot had upended Jon Nurse.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Childs, Hutton (Duffy 82), Frater, Bone, Scott (McElroy 86), Lamacraft, Covington, Bridge, Hay, Nicholl

Hitchin
Goals, Courtesy of Dave Miley HTYFC (1mb)

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