Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Berkhamsted Town 1 Hitchin Town 2
Sunday, August 12 2007
Hitchin buried the ghost of cup defeats past by overcoming bogey side Berkhamsted Town in the first round of the Herts Charity Cup.
It wasn't a pretty performance, largely because of the heat and a difficult playing surface, but the Canaries had enough to see off a limited home team.
Canaries manager Darren Salton fielded two trialists for this game, former Bedford midfielder Jason James and ex-Aylesbury and Arlesey striker Richard Pringle. Both made a signifciant contribution to the victory and could feature this weekend as the real action gets underway.
Indeed it was Pringle that opened the scoring after seven minutes, volleying home after good work by Ben L'Honore and Parys Okai.
Hitchin were well in command in the first half and could have scored further goals, notably when Pringle set up David Deeney, whose shot was saved by Berkhamsted goalkeeper Lee Clark. Pringle was paired with Carl Drew up front, a player with a goalscoring pedigree but one that is still regaining full fitness after a broken leg.
Drew extended Hitchin's lead in the 47th minute, shooting low into the net after L'Honore had showed great determination inside the area.
Berkhamsted rarely troubled the Hitchin defence but pulled a goal back in the 86th minute, substitute Grant Sanders firing home from close range to give Hitchin a few anxious moments at the end.
Hitchin: Perks, Deeney, Okai, Frater, Childs, James, Williams, Hill, Pringle (Cunnington 82), Drew (Orphanou 55), L'Honore (N.Gentle-King 77)