Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Histon 2 Hitchin Town 3
Tuesday, August 31 2004
Inspired substitutions were the catalyst for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Hitchin Town's recent history as the Canaries pulled off a stunning victory at Histon.
With 90 minutes gone, Hitchin were trailing 2-1 against a Histon side that had completely dominated the game. Kerry Dixon's side, shorn of its forward line through injury, had gone to Histon with a one-man attack, the overworked Mark Bridge.
Substitutes Chris McMenamin and Bilal Hassan netted the last gasp goals but Dixon had to thanks his goalkeeper, Richard Wilmot for keeping Hitchin in the game until the final seconds.
Histon took the lead on 28 minutes, Jamie Barker heading home from a corner. Four minutes into the second half, Hitchin equalised out of the blue. A corner by Stuart Maynard sailed into a crowded area and skipper Paul Covington headed his second goal of the season.
But Hitchin were level just three minutes, however. Mark Burke upended Neil Andrews on the edge of the area and Ian Cambridge netted from the penalty spot.
For a long period, it was Wilmot against Histon, with the Canaries goalkeeper pulling off a string of good saves. Barker and Andrews were both denied by Wilmot and then Louie Farrington and Neil Kennedy both struck the woodwork.
The introduction of McMenamin, back after almost two years out with injury, changed the game. The veteran midfielder showed some elegant touches but it was from the penalty spot that he gave Hitchin a last minute equalised. Bridge was brought down in the area and McMenamin confidentially stroked the ball past Paul Barber.
The drama hadn't finished, for within seconds, Ricky Case had set up Hassan and he sent his shot wide of Barber to shock the home crowd. "That was a real smash and grab result," beamed Dixon after a nerve-wracking finale.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Barr, Kidd, Burke (Hassan 81), McCulloch, Covington, Galvin (Case 73), Maynard, Bridge, Cavill, Duffy (McMenamin 73)
