Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Gloucester City 1

Saturday, December 18 2004

New manager Darren Salton’s first league game at Top Field ended in stalemate against draw specialists Gloucester City.

Although the Canaries failed to win three points, two games undefeated takes Hitchin into the Christmas period in good spirit, ready for the big local derby with Bedford on December 27.

Hitchin started well, with Darran Hay going close but denied by Gloucester goalkeeper Matt Bath.

But Gloucester took the lead on 20 minutes in controversial fashion. A crossfield ball by Lee Davis just missed Darryl Addis, but when the ball was returned, Davis tapped home from close range with Hitchin appealing for handball.

Ten minutes later, Gloucester’s Neil Mustoe handled in the area and Shane Hill equalised from the penalty spot.

Gloucester has a good chance to regain the lead, but Jimmy Cox’s shot from inside the area was well saved by Richard Wilmot. At the other end, Hitchin went close once more, Hay connecting with a Bilal Hassan long throw but seeing his header tipped over for a corner.

There was a scare for the Canaries at the start of the second period when Hassan headed a Neil Griffiths effort off the line. Hay had Hitchin’s best opportunities, notably when he ran onto Hill’s through ball and shot wide of the target.

And Wilmot, late in the game, came to Hitchin’s rescue when he stopped a shot by Cox after the Gloucester forward had weaved his way through the home defence.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Old, Hutton, Covington, Smith, Baldry, Cavill, Hill, Hay, Bridge, Hassan (McMenamin 63)

Tweet