Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 5 Tring Athletic 0
Wednesday, November 1 2006
Hitchin strolled into the second round of the Herts Senior Cup where they will meet Bishops Stortford at home.
Striker Josh Sozzo scored a hat-trick as Darren Salton’s men completely outplayed their Spartan South Midlands League visitors.
It did not take long for the Canaries to open the scoring, Mark Bridge flicking home at the near post following a corner after two minutes.
Hitchin’s second goal came after 10 minutes, Gavin Jaggard’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Gary White and Sozzo finished from close range.
Jaggard and Sozzo linked up again in the 28th minute, with Sozzo grabbing his second goal of the game. By half time, Hitchin could have doubled their score.
It was constant pressure from the Canaries in the second half and Bridge struck the woodwork after 56 minutes. A minute later, Rob Beckwith was tested for the first time in the Hitchin goal.
On 78 minutes, Bridge scored his second goal with an overhead kick following a goalmouth scramble.
Young Scott Orphanou thought he had also netted when his effort was ruled out for offside.
The final goal of the night came from Sozzo, who applied the finishing touch following another goalmouth melee.
Hitchin: Beckwith, Pugh, Ducket, Cretton, Hammonds, Lamacraft (Ross 71), Bridge, Miller, Jaggard (Gillard 84), Sozzo, French (Orphanou 65)
Tring: White, Phillips, Foskett, Salmon, Gordon, Nicholson, Williams (Johnson 62), Martin, Wicker (Jeffrey 75), Gray, Duncan
Referee: A.Crawford
Attendance: 82