Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 3 Team Bath 1
Saturday, January 8 2005
The Canaries won at home for the first time since mid-October and gave Darren Salton his first victory at Top Field since taking over as manager.
Just as important for Hitchin was the form of Josh Sozzo, who scored his first goals for over two months and demonstrated his clinical finishing power.
But few people in the sparse crowd would deny that Team Bath were one of the most skilful and well-drilled sides seen at Hitchin this season. For long periods they threatened the home goal without much reward, however.
They could have taken the lead early on, but it was Hitchin that opened the scoring, a diving header by Darran Hay from an Aaron Cavill free kick. Team Bath’s Ali Otto had the chance to level on the half hour, but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Team Bath opened the second half well, but for all their pressure, they lacked finishing power. Hitchin almost added to their lead when Matt Baldry struck the woodwork with a header but Sozzo had better luck in the 65th minute.
Cavill set up the Hitchin striker and he hit a first-time shot past Ali Hines from 25 yards – one of the best goals of the season at Top Field. Seven minutes later, Team Bath pulled a goal back when Chris Holland powered a far post header past Richard Wilmot.
With 11 minutes to go, Sozzo scored his second goal of the game from inside the penalty area to seal the points for Hitchin.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Old, Barr, Covington, McCulloch, Baldry, Lamacraft, Cavill, Hay, Sozzo (Lewis 85), Hassan (Bridge 60)
