Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 0 Grantham Town 1

Wednesday, August 25 2004

Hitchin lost their unbeaten home record to an uncompromising Grantham side, who clinched victory with a second half goal.

It wasn’t a good night for the Canaries, who failed to reproduce the type of football that beat Kings Lynn only three days earlier. As well as a greasy surface, Hitchin also found the physical approach of the visitors difficult to handle.

Hitchin started well, though, and Gavin Jaggard had a one-on-one chance in the opening minutes. Josh Sozzo also had a shot across goal after he outpaced a Grantham defender. At the other end, Spencer Commons sent a cross-sum-shot onto the roof of the Hitchin goal. Right on the half-time whistle, a back pass by Paul Covington caused panic at the back, resulting in Darren Connell sending a shot wide of the goal.

The warning signs were there for Hitchin just after the break when veteran striker Darren Collins sent a shot inches wide of Neil Cheek’s goal. In the 58th minute, Grantham scored, Connell finishing from close range after Brett Darby’s cross from the right.

Hitchin pushed forward and Jaggard had three efforts to score, each time goalkeeper Mario Ziccardi saving. Eight minutes from time, another Hitchin attack ended with Aaron Cavill falling in the area- all appeals for a penalty were turned down. As Hitchin went in search of a last-ditch equaliser, Ricky Case met a Stuart Maynard corner with a header that was agonisingly close to finding the back of the net. But it just wasn’t the Canaries’ night.

Hitchin: Cheek, Barr (Hassan 81), Kidd, Covington, McCulloch, Cavill, Lamacraft (Case 65), Maynard, Jaggard, Sozzo, Bridge

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