Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 1 Rugby Town 2
Wednesday, April 4 2007
On paper, this game looked like one of Hitchin's easier fixtures in the final month of the season, but once more, the Canaries crashed to defeat as anxiety grows at Top Field.
Hitchin's first goal from open play since February 17 came too late to affect the outcome of this game, a pity since Ryan Charles’ 25 yard strike was one of the goals of the season. Hitchin have now scored just 8 goals in 18 games, a stark contrast to the first half of the season.
Hitchin were two goals down when Charles scored and had scarcely threatened the Rugby goal. Although there were better performances from Martin Standen, Charles and one or two others, the Canaries looked low on confidence and devoid of creativity.
These are bad times at Hitchin and it was not long before Rugby opened the scoring. In the 14th minute, a corner was nodded on by Jason Taylor and David Stone shot home at the far post.
Hitchin’s only attempt of note in the first half was a long range effort from Jon Stevenson that was way too high.
Two minutes into the second half, Rugby increased their lead when Taylor was allowed too much time and space to send a tame shot past Rob Beckwith.
David Deeney saw a long range shot go wide and Stone almost added a second when his shot on the turn was pushed for a corner by Beckwith.
The game was already in added time when Charles scored and for a brief moment there was hope that a dramatic comeback could be staged.
Hitchin: Beckwith, Childs, A.Scanlon (Cunnington 77), Cretton (Gentle-King 75), Frater, Stevenson, Orphanou, Deeney, Standen, Charles, G.Lamacraft (A.Lamacraft 65)
Rugby: Afandiyev, Stringfellow, Commander, Gordon, Herbert, Breward, Okai, Francis, Taylor, Stone, Staff