Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 1 Chippenham Town 0
Sunday, August 19 2007
Matt Childs scored the first goal of his career to give Hitchin a deserved victory against Chippenham side at Top Field.
Central defender Childs, in his second spell at Hitchin, broke the deadlock in a game that rarely rose above mediocre.
Hitchin included new signings Jason James and Richard Pringle who joined the club a few days earlier.
The first half took time to get going and only a header from Hitchin striker Richard Pringle that was saved by Chippenham goalkeeper Chris Snoddy provided relief from the tedium. Mostly, however, the opening half was a catalogue of badly placed passes and free kicks.
For Hitchin, young forward Scott Orphanou showed plenty of energy and at the back Ryan Frater policed Chippenham’s new forward Jake Reid.
Chippenham went close on the stroke of half-time, Jake Reid racing onto a Sean Seavill through ball and shooting wide.
In similar fashion, the second half started in lack lustre fashion, but Hitchin started to get on top and Shane Hill tested keeper Snoddy when he sent a low shot wide of the target.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute when a Hill free kick was headed down by Pringle and Childs, in an unfamilar position, volleyed past Snoddy from close range.
The game seemed to find fresh impetus from the goal and Chippenham started to push forward. Iain Harvey shot over after a mis-hit effort from Ross Adams and Scott Lye saw his tipped over the bar after Hitchin goalkeeper Ricky Perks had dropped a high ball.
Hitchin continued to live dangerously and Parys Okai cleared off the line from a Kes Metitiri’s header.
Metitiri struck the woodwork shortly afterwards with a header that looked to be bound for the net.
Hitchin had the final say, however, with a Hill free kick a fraction to high in added time.
Hitchin: Perks, Deeney, Okai, Frater, Childs, Lamacraft, Williams, James (Hoyte 84), Pringle (Cunnington 80), Orphanou, Hill
Chippenham: Snoddy, Adams, Halliday, Metitiri, Price, Harvey, Cornwall, Carr (Lye 77), Reid, Seavill (Pratt 68), Allison (Jacobs 82)
Attendance: 300
Referee: S.Feerick