Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Dunstable Town 0 Hitchin Town 1
Tuesday, November 1 2005
The Errea Cup may not figure very high on anyone’s priorities, but Hitchin continued their good run with a win at a ground where they suffered humiliation last season.
Given that seven of the Dunstable squad had appeared at Top Field at various times in their career it was a case of “familiarity breeds contempt” in this game. The niggly undercurrent that dominated much of the game resulted in Dunstable goalkeeper Paul Taylor being rather foolishly sent off for foul and abusive language. If referee Mr Tingey had applied that rule more strictly, there would have been more red cards, on and off the pitch!
Hitchin made hard work of disposing of a team that is languishing near the foot of the Southern League Division One West. In the first half, Daniel French struck the post and new signing Martin Young wasted a golden opportunity to score.
Taylor was sent off in first half added time, with striker Ben Smith taking over in goal. To Smith’s credit, he pulled off a couple of good saves from Thomas Hayes as Hitchin went in search of a goal.
Smith was beaten in the 68th minute when Hayes played the ball inside the area to Glen Lamacraft who fired home from close range. Young could have added another just before the end, but his effort was way too high.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Gibb, Ducket (Jenner 49), Mills, Ayres, Lamacraft, Young, Cavill (N.Frater), Hayes, Hassan, French (Pugh 57)