Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 4 Rugby United 2
Saturday, October 16 2004
A dramatic comeback, fuelled by a Gavin Jaggard hat-trick, gave Hitchin victory in a game that looked lost at one stage.Rugby led by two goals when Jaggard arrived on the scene for his first appearance since late August.
But Rugby had got off to the best possible start with a goal after 58 seconds. Justin Marsden finished crisply from the edge of the area after a good crossfield move.
Hitchin came back strongly, however, and Darran Hay and Ian Scott both had shots well saved by Dean Thomas.
Rugby extended their lead in the 51st minute with an outstanding goal. Marsden took advantage of a poor pass to run on and brush aside the challenge of three players before shooting beneath Wilmot’s body.
Hay had two good headers that went narrowly close before Hitchin mounted their comeback.The Canaries pulled a goal back in the 64th minute. Hay fed Rory Hutton on the wing and his cross to the near post was volleyed home by Josh Sozzo for this first goal of the season.
Seconds later, Rugby’s Robbie Beard was red-carded after an off the ball incident. In the 71st minute Hitchin drew level, a Scott free kick finding the head of Jaggard who glanced his header into the corner of the net.
Five minutes later, Jaggard put Hitchin ahead after playing a one-two with Sozzo inside the area. And five minutes from time, Jaggard completed his hat-trick with a far post header from Mark Bridge’s cross.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Barr (Old 90), Kidd (Jaggard 58), Covington, McCulloch, Scott (Galvin 87), Sozzo, Hutton, Bridge, Hay, Cavill
