Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 0 Tottenham Hotspurs 1

Sunday, July 18 2004

Hitchin's pre-season programme opened with an encouraging display against a young Tottenham XI.

An equally youthful Hitchin side was only beaten by a last minute goal from Simon Dawkins. Until the closing stages, the home side matched a team of Tottenham hopefuls.

But it was clear from a tame first half that both sides were trying to find their feet. Tottenham's Charlie Daniels missed an open goal in the 18th minute after good work by Andy Barcham. And there was another let-off for Hitchin just before the interval when Jack Maghom's shot was saved point blank by Richard Wilmot.

The inevitable glut of half-time substitutions interrupted the rhythm of the game, although Hitchin almost took the lead in the 51st minute when Gavin Jaggard shot over after Josh Sozzo turned the ball towards goal.

Barcham and Maghoma both went close for Tottenham and a free-kick by Sozzo replied for Hitchin.

In the final seconds of the game, a run down the flank by Daniels ended with a low cross and Dawkins pushed the ball over the line.

There were consolations for Hitchin, however, in the performances of defenders Lee McCulloch and Gordon Barr.

Hitchin: Wilmot (Cheek h/t), Barr (Watt 58), Duff (Niederman 60), Burke (Soards h/t), McCulloch (Potter 77), Scott (Osborn h/t), Jaggard (Mahal 66), Evans (Galvin 50), Hay (Case h/t), Sozzo (Johnson 65), Bridge (McMaugh h/t)

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