Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 2 Tiverton Town 3

Saturday, December 2 2006

Hitchin's challenge at the top end of the BGB Premier received a blow when the Canaries threw away a two-goal advantage to lose this lively game.

To rub salt in the wound, the winning goal, scored in the final minute of the game, was an own goal that came off David Deeney.

Hitchin went in at half-time two goals to the good after creating a string of chances. Although Tiverton had the first opportunity of the game, a scuffed shot by Nat Pepperell, it was the Canaries who took a 14th minute lead. But the goal was not scored by a Hitchin player, but Tiverton’s Chris Holloway who turned the ball home after Josh Sozzo’s shot was heading for the corner flag.

Carl Williams, Sozzo and Daniel French all had chances to score as Hitchin turned up the pressure, but it was not until the 43rd minute that they extended their lead. Mark Ducket, who is gaining a reputation for his free kick prowess, curled a low effort from 25 yards past Tiverton goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe.

But instead of consolidating their healthy lead, Hitchin came out in the second half lacking conviction and Tiverton made them pay for a lacklustre opening. In the 50th minute, the Devon side pulled a goal back, Pepperell’s run down the flank and along the byline going unchecked and Sam Malson netting from six yards.

Hitchin’s fans behind the Tiverton goal, did not see much of the action as the visitors camped in the home side’s half. After 61 minutes, Tivvy equalised, a Ducket clearance going as far as a Tiverton player and Chris Bale shooting low into the net.

Hitchin had late chances to score when French’s shot was blocked and then substitute Gavin Jaggard just failed to steer the ball past Sandercombe. The final twist, though, cruelly punished Hitchin. Jamie Mudge’s shot was going nowhere when it took a deflection off a Hitchin player, finally confirmed as David Deeney, and ricocheted beyond Rob Beckwith. There was no time for a comeback and Tiverton earned their first away win of the season.

Hitchin: Beckwith, Pugh, Ducket, Frater, Folds, Deeney, Williams, Miller (Lamacraft 84), Dillon, Sozzo (Jaggard 70), French

Tiverton: Sandercombe, Booth, Vinnicombe, Harris, Gardner, Thomas, Pepperell, Bale, Malson, Holloway, Mudge

Attendance: 305

Referee: G.Muge

Tweet