Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 0 Grantham Town 2
Saturday, March 25 2006
Two first half goals by Grantham were enough to send Hitchin to their second successive league defeat. The Canaries have now failed to win any of their last five league games at home, and this was one of their worst performances of the season.
Grantham started the more confident side and Hitchin goalkeeper Richard Wilmot pulled of a flying save from a Fabian Smith volley. In the 35th minute, the visitors took the lead when Ian Robinson hit a 25-yard shot into the net despite Wilmot's attempt to save.
Four minutes later, Grantham extended their lead when a Smith cross to the far post was headed goalwards by Adam Sturgess and Grant Brown applied the finishing touch. Grantham could have had another goal in the first half when Shaun Popple cut inside and shot wide of the target.
The second half saw a better showing from Hitchin and an early half-chance fell to Aaran Cavill, who shot wide from Liam Folds' pass. But it was not until more than a hour that Hitchin really troubled the Grantham defence. A clearance by Wilmot deceived the Grantham goalkeeper and as the ball ran loose, Thomas Hayes shot wide of the goal.
Grantham's Jason Turner had two chances saved by Wilmot, and with six minutes remaining, Turner hit the side-netting with another effort.
The game ended in bad-tempered fashion, and during the 90 minutes, Hitchin had no less than six players booked.
Hitchin: Wilmot, Pugh, Okai, Hammonds, Folds, Hicks (Lamacraft 52), Ducket, Cavill (Lochhead 52), Hayes (Phelan 64), Sozzo, French