Hitchin Town Football Club

Potters Bar Town 2 Hitchin Town 1

Wednesday, November 17 2004

Hitchin fell to two sucker punches at Spartan South Midlands League Potters Bar, crashing out of the Herts Senior Cup at the first hurdle.

An early goal and a late header sealed Hitchin's fate, but in truth the home side deserved their victory against a weakened Canaries team.

It took just three minutes for Richie Howard to fire Potters Bar ahead, a strong shot on the run that crept under Richard Wilmot's body.

Apart from a Chris McMenamin cross-cum-shot that troubled home goalkeeper Richard Fitkin, Hitchin were shot-shy in the extreme in the first half. In fact, Potters Bar, with Andy Martin a constant menace, should have been further ahead by half-time.

Martin almost netted in the early stages of the second period when he took advantage of a bad clearance by Wilmot but saw his effort saved.

As Hitchin stepped up a gear, Bilal Hassan headed just wide and Darran Hay sent a first-time shot just past the post.

Ten minutes from time, the Canaries equalised when Lee McCulloch headed home from McMenamin's corner.

But Potters Bar continued to threaten the Hitchin goal and in the third minute of stoppage time, Howard netted his second goal of the night, stooping to head past Wilmot at the far post after a cross by Poole.

Hitchin: Wilmot, Gibb, Old, Baldry, McCulloch, Cavill, Potter (Hill 82), McMenamin, Hay, Hassan, Bridge

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