Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 1 Bedford Town 4
Monday, December 27 2004
Bedford punished Hitchin in this fast-moving local derby, sending the Canaries to their first defeat under manager Darren Salton. After surviving pressure from Hitchin in the opening half, the Eagles took advantage of a series of defensive slips and cruised to victory.
Both sides had chances in the opening minutes. Hitchin struck first when a through-ball by Aaron Cavill found Mark Bridge and after letting the chance go begging, Bilal Hassan’s shot was blocked. At the other end, Chris Dillon was denied by goalkeeper Richard Wilmot, who bravely dived at the Bedford’s striker’s feet.
The home side were unlucky not to take a 20th minute lead, however, when Darran Hay’s 20-yard shot grazed the outside of a post. As Hitchin gained the upper hand, Glen Lamacraft saw his effort from a an acute angle was cleared off the line by Richard Challinor.
But it was Bedford who took the lead six minutes from the interval, Rene Howe latching onto a hopeful long ball and chipping Wilmot who was caught in nomansland.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Bedford added a second goal, former Eagles midfielder Paul Covington turning the ball past his own goalkeeper after a low cross into the middle from Eddie Lawley.
Bedford cemented their lead in the 54th minute when Dillon teased the Hitchin defence, beating Wilmot twice before firing into the net.
Three minutes later, Lamacraft pulled a goal back for Hitchin, shooting low past James Robinson from six yards.
But Bedford scored again eight minutes from time, Dillon running to the byline and pulling the ball back for Luke Wildy to prod home as Hitchin appealed for offside.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Old, McMenamin, Covington, Smith, Baldry, Cavill (Evans 83), Lamacraft, Hay, Bridge (Murray 73), Hassan
