Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 4 Cheshunt 1
Monday, January 2 2006
Hitchin won their first league game since November 19 with an emphatic display against struggling Cheshunt. The Canaries’ first game of 2006 was highlighted by Josh Sozzo’s first hat-trick for the club, taking him to 12 league goals for the season.
Sozzo's first goal, after 24 minutes, was fortunate to say the least. A shot by new signing Parys Okai was deflected past Cheshunt goalkeeper Michael Kalli and Sozzo claimed the goal.
Eight minutes later, Hitchin were two ahead, Gavin Jaggard firing home after Daniel French had squared the ball. Both sides had further chances, with Dewayne Clark fired over for Cheshunt and French saw a low drive saved by Kalli.
A minute before the break, Cheshunt pulled a goal back when Lloyd Opara netted from the penalty spot.
Opara could have levelled the scores when he went round two defenders and saw his shot saved by Wilmot. In the 58th minute, though, Sozzo scored his second goal when his deflected shot, following a good run by Mark Ducket, deceived Kalli.
Again, Opara troubled Hitchin, however he had another effort pushed for a corner. Hitchin scored again in the 67th minute, killing off any Cheshunt comeback. Sozzo had two bites of the cherry from a tight angle, shooting home at the second attempt.
Jaggard could have added more gloss on the scoreline late on, but his shot, after beating a defender, was wide of the target.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Pugh, Okai (Hayes 75), Ayres, Folds, Hicks, French (W.Mills 70), Cavill, Jaggard, Sozzo (Baldry 83), Ducket