Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Hemel Hempstead 4

Monday, March 28 2005

Hitchin’s poor record in local derbies at Top Field this season continued with a crushing defeat against relegation threatened Hemel Hempstead.

In five local derbies at home this season, the Canaries have gained just one point, conceding 19 goals. And for the second time at Top Field this season, Hitchin fell foul of striker Grant Carney, who took his total to six goals against the Canaries.

But it was another scourge of the past, Fabio Valenti, that gave Hemel the lead after 29 minutes, drilling low into the net from the edge of the area.

Hitchin had a handful of chances at the start of the second half, with Bilal Hassan seeing a close range shot blocked and Josh Sozzo blasting over after being set free by Glen Lamacraft.

The misses proved costly, because Paul Kelly hit a 35-yard drive in off the post to extend Hemel’s lead in the 58th minute. Six minutes later, Carney sent a superb chip over Richard Wilmot to make Hitchin’s task near-impossible.

Josh Sozzo reduced the arrears, however, in the 73rd minute, sending a deflected free kick past Hemel goalkeeper Ricky Millard.

But there was still more to come from Hemel and two minutes from the end, Carney took advantage took advantage of a slip by Wilmot before sliding the ball in from an acute angle.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Baldry, McMenamin, Smith, McCulloch, Lamacraft, Cavill, Hill (Mills h/t), Furness (Hassan 37), Sozzo, Duffy

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