Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 1 Chesham United 1
Monday, August 29 2005
A goal 10 minutes from time by last season’s Southern League top scorer John Lawford prevented Hitchin from maintaining their 100% home record.
Hitchin will look upon this game as one in which two points went astray, although Chesham did have their chances during the 90 minutes. The Canaries took the lead after five minutes when in-form Daniel French raced from the halfway line and calmly slotted home past former Hitchin goalkeeper Darren Bonfield.
In an entertaining first half, both sides had ample opportunities to score. Lawford had three chances to level for Chesham and Garry Sippetts saw a neat volley saved by Richard Wilmot. Hitchin’s best chances fell to Aaran Cavill, who was denied by Bonfield, a Stuart Lochhead header and a low near post drive by Thomas Hayes that went wide.
Sozzo almost extended Hitchin’s lead in the opening seconds of the restart, but Bonfield was equal to his effort. The ever-dangerous French weaved his way through the Chesham defence before being stopped in his tracks. Sozzo also tested Bonfield with a near post shot from a Cavill cross.
There was a let off for Hitchin in the 73rd minute when an indirect free kick by Lawford went straight into the net. But seven minutes later, Lawford ran unchallenged across the area and saw his shot deflected past Wilmot.
Hitchin still pushed for a winner, but French’s shot was saved by Bonfield and Scott Cretton headed wide in the final seconds.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Lamacraft, Ducket, McCulloch (Cretton 38), Ayres, Lochhead, Cavill, Mills, Sozzo, Hayes, French