Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Luton Town 2

Monday, August 1 2005

The biggest Top Field crowd for around a decade saw Hitchin put on a spirited performance against a strong Luton Town side.

Canaries’ officials were delighted at the 1,034 attendance while manager Darren Salton was pleased with the way his team battled against a Hatters side that included seven first team players.

In truth, Luton should have taken a commanding lead into the half-time break, but bad finishing and a plucky Hitchin display meant that the teams went in all-square.

Luton took the lead in the 11th minute when tall central defender Russell Perrett bundled the ball home from a Dean Morgan corner.

As a giant hot-air balloon almost descended upon Top Field, providing a spectacular backdrop to the game, Luton missed the chance to rack up the goal count. Paul Dalglish had three golden opportunities to score, but he was denied by Steven Graham at the near post and sent his other efforts wide of the target.
Right on the half-time whistle, Josh Sozzo – who has looked sharp in pre-season – levelled the scores with a header from six yards after James Ayres had nodded on Aaron Cavill’s corner.

Luton regained the lead in the 52nd minute through Rowen Vine, who shot home after Perrett had back-headed another Morgan corner. The Hatters could have had another goal shortly afterwards, but Ayres cleared off the line from another effort from Vine.

Hitchin refused to be overawed, however, and Tommy Hayes went close to netting his first goal for the club when he forced goalkeeper Dean Brill into a save. In the final minute, the Canaries almost equalised when Mark Bridge shot into the side-netting.

“We’re looking better game-by-game,” said Darren Salton. “And this was a great night for us – a good crowd, some good players on show and our lads competing very well against a strong side.”

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