Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Maidenhead United 3 Hitchin Town 0
Sunday, April 1 2007
Seven games to go and Hitchin Town fans are anxiously looking at the tail end of the BGB Premier Division after this latest setback.
Maidenhead United will not have many games as easy as this as they bid for a play-off place, the very target Hitchin had set themselves at the start of the season.
There was little to cheer the North Herts contingent at York Road and not for the first time in recent weeks, the Canaries were shot-shy in front of goal. In fact, Hitchin's best chance fell to goalkeeper Rob Beckwith, whose wind-assisted goal kick almost sailed into the net at the other end.
Maidenhead went ahead after 12 minutes when Mark Nisbet swept the ball home following a free kick by Errol Telemaque. In the 28th minute, the home side doubled their lead, Grant Cooper netting with a free kick that found a gaping hole in an ill-prepared defensive wall.
A free kick that was dropped by Maidenhead goalkeeper Chico Ramos presented Ryan Frater with a chance in front of goal, but his effort went over the bar.
Maidenhead started to dominate again after the break and Beckwith pulled off a good save from Neville Roach, who was a thorn in Hitchin's side all afternoon. Roach also went close with a shot across the face of goal.
Maidenhead's third goal in the 66th minute was shrouded in mystery as the referee awarded a penalty following an attack that had come to nothing. It was later revealed that Scott Cretton had pulled back Lee Newman. Bobby Behzadi scored from the penalty spot.
Hitchin: Beckwith, Childs (P. Scanlon h/t), Gentle-King (Folds 78), Cretton, Frater, Standen, Deeney, Stevenson, Cunnington (62 Charles), Orphanou, Lamacraft.
Maidenhead: Ramos, Nisbet (84 Romeo 84), Parsons, Cooper, Sterling, Behzadi, Telemaque (73 Fenton), Brown (Lee 70), Newman, Roach, Smith.
Referee: M.McLaughlin
Attendance: 265