Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Kings Lynn 1 Hitchin Town 2
Sunday, August 22 2004
Hitchin stunned a 1,000-plus crowd at Kings Lynn by recording their second win of the season against one of the Southern League's title favourites.
Promoted last season, the Norfolk side had won both their league games prior to meeting Hitchin, underlining the pundits' view that they would be among the top clubs in the Premier Division this season.
But Kings Lynn were beaten by a hard-working and confident Canaries side that recovered from going a goal down in the first half to control the second half and clinch the three points.
Hitchin could have gone a goal up before Kings Lynn settled into their stride in the early stages. Josh Sozzo was set up by Aaron Cavill but his shot sailed wide of the target.
The home side took the lead after 14 minutes through Danny Bloomfield, who ran onto Mark Angel's through ball and finished confidentally.
But the Canaries came back well and seven minutes before the interval, Gordon Barr's cross was swept home by in-form Mark Bridge. Seconds later, another cross, this time by Stuart Maynard was headed inches wide by Darran Hay.
In the 52nd minute, Hitchin were in the lead, Gavin Jaggard turning the ball into the net after Sozzo's low pass into the area.
Kings Lynn rarely threatened to restore parity, in fact goalkeeper Neil Cheek was not tested in the second half. There was a minor scare when he dropped a cross, but Cavill was on hand to clear the danger. Hitchin's defence, with Paul Covington playing a skipper's role in the heart of it, was well able to soak up any pressure.
But Hitchin's victory might have been even more comfortable had two efforts by Sozzo and a volley from Cavill had found the back of the net.
And 16 minutes from time, Jaggard had another effort rules out for an infringement.
"A terrific result, it makes the setback at Aylesbury all the more frustrating," said Canaries Assistant Manager Ian Donnelly.
Hitchin: Cheek, Barr, Kidd, Covington, McCulloch, Cavill, Maynard, Sozzo, Hay, Bridge (Case 86), Jaggard
