Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 2 Chesham United 2

Saturday, March 5 2005

A stirring second half recovery gave Hitchin a point against free-scoring Chesham in an incident packed game at Top Field.

The Canaries came back from two-down and could even have snatched victory as they finished strongly.

Chesham took the lead after 12 minutes when John Lawford tapped home a rebound after Richard Wilmot had saved Gary Sippetts’ shot.

Hitchin almost equalised after 29 minutes when Josh Sozzo blasted over from close range following a good cross by Iuean Lewis. Chesham continued to dominate the first half and Wilmot came to the rescue with a double save from Sippetts and Mosiah Polidore.

Bilal Hassan had a clear chance to level in the opening seconds of the restart but Chesham extended their lead when Polidore scrambled the ball into the net in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, Sozzo pulled a goal back for Hitchin after James Kidd set him clear of the Chesham defence.

Kidd and Sippetts were both red-carded in the 57th minute for fighting.

Hitchin’s recovery was complete in the 66th minute with Jim Duffy shooting past Jamie Jackson in a crowded penalty area. In the 70th minute, though, Chesham were awarded a penalty after James Ayres upended Polidore. Lawford scored with his kick, but the referee ordered a retake and this time Wilmot pulled off a save.

Hitchin finished the stronger side, with Bilal Hassan going close on three occasions.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Barr, Kidd, McCulloch (Furness), Ayres, McMenamin, Hassan, Lamacraft, Lewis, Sozzo, Duffy

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