Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 3 (3) Boreham Wood 3 (4)
Wednesday, December 8 2004
Hitchin's 100% failure rate in cup competitions this season continued in the Herts Charity Cup as a below-strength Canaries side crashed out to Boreham Wood on penalties.
Hitchin were robbed of victory in extra time when Sherman Stanley equalised for the visitors with just two minutes remaining. Paul Covington had given Hitchin the lead one minute into the second period of extra time and that looked to be enough for Darren Salton's men.
In normal time, Hitchin had taken a 26th minute lead through Darran Hay, a header from Aaron Cavill's cross but found themselves behind in the second half. Former Baldock and Stotfold manager Ian Allinson's side had gained the upper hand with goals by Sam O'Connell (48 minutes) and Hitchin old boy Stuart Lochhead (78 minutes.
But in the 88th minute, Lee Downham netted for Hitchin with a cross-cum-shot that deceived the Boreham Wood defence. That sent the game into extra time.
After Stanley's late saver for Boreham Wood, Darren Gibb, Covington and Bilal Hassan all scored for Hitchin from the penalty spot. Ian Scott and Mark Bridge both missed, while Boreham Wood scored their first four kicks.
