Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 0 Bath City 1
Saturday, April 9 2005
Hitchin’s survival hopes were dealt a major blow when they lost this vital game. The storm clouds are now well and truly gathering over Top Field and already Canaries fans are talking of relegation as the inevitable outcome.
This was a dour contest, settled by a 46th minute goal by John Williams. Bath, a vastly experienced team that has under performed this season, were rarely troubled by Hitchin and were comfortable in victory.
The Canaries could claim that had the better of things in the first half, without seriously testing goalkeeper Paul Evans. But just 36 seconds into the restart, however, Bath took a grip on the game.
A quickly-taken free kick by Gary Owers was played out to Alex Sykes and his cross was met by Williams with a shot from six yards. Hitchin appealed that the ball had not crossed the line, but the referee was close at hand.
Hitchin’s best chance came in the dying seconds, but Aaron Cavill’s close range effort was easily gathered by Evans.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Smith, McMenamin, Ayres, McCulloch, Baldry, Barr (Mills 63), Cavill, Sozzo, Lewis (Bridge 82), Duffy (Hassan 67)
