Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin Town 3 Eastbourne Town 0
Saturday, October 20 2007
Hitchin may never have as comfortable a 90 minutes than they had against Ryman Division One side Eastbourne in this FA Trophy tie at Top Field.
The Canaries were never seriously troubled by the Sussex team and breezed through to the Second Qualifying Round.
It was a low-key affair, lacking in atmosphere and attended by another disappointing crowd. But Darren Salton's side banished any thoughts of an upset with a controlled performance.
Hitchin opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Ryan Frater's crossfield ball found Tyron Sealey and his low cross was drilled home by the left-foot of Mark Ducket
Hitchin's second goal came on 41 minutes, Wayne Mills was brought down in the area and Shane Hill scored from the penalty spot. Frater could have extended the two-goal lead with a header that sailed past the post from a corner.
Eastbourne's first chance of note came in the early stages of the second half when Greg Manton chipped over the bar.
But there was no genuine threat from the visitors and Hitchin stepped up the pressure once more. New signing Ricky Miller linked up with Jon Stevenson, but the latter shot wide. Then Miller struck the woodwork after a cross by Sealey. Miller was to mark his first appearance with a well taken goal 11 minutes from time. A through ball by Jason James found the diminutive striker and he shrugged aside a challenge from Peter Featherstone before sending a low shot inside Scott Andrews' near post.
Late in the game, Eastbourne's Clive Snell struck the top of the bar with a cross-cum-shot.
Hitchin: Bennett, Deeney (Childs 67), Mountford, Frater, L.Gentle-King, Williams (James 55), Sealey, Hill, Stevenson, Mills (Mller 40), Ducket
Eastbourne: Andrews, Davidson, Fratas (Leigate 72), Catt, McKay, Featherstone, Simmons, G.Manton (Snell 58), Batiup, Dalliway B.Manton (Francis 68)
Attendance: 165
Referee: S.Massey