Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Hitchin Town 1
Tuesday, November 13 2007
Hitchin grabbed a vital, unexpected point against BGB Premier leaders Hemel, thanks to a battling performance against the home side’s all-star line-up.
The point means that Hitchin have lost once in seven league games, but with six of those games ended all-square, the points haul for that run is just six.
Hemel started brightly with Ollie Burgess sending a 25 yard effort wide of the Hitchin goal. Then former Hitchin man Chris Dillon was put through one-on-one only to be denied by Ricky Perks.
The Canaries gave a debut to new signing Moses Olaleye and he looked sharp in the opening stages of the game. Olaleye went close to scoring in the 15th minute when he cut inside and shot wide.
Shane Hill also saw one effort fumbled by Hemel goalkeeper Ian Brown but nobody was able to take advantage of the rebound. Richard Pringle also went close when his headed from Wayne Mills’ cross was saved by Brown.
In the 39th minute, Hemel went ahead with a bizarre goal. Drew Roberts mis-kicked in front of goal and the ball ran to Steve Sinclair who sent a superb effort over the head of Perks.
Hitchin drew level after 54 minutes when Shane Hill netted from the penalty spot. Olaleye was tripped in the area by Yeboah, and Hill confidently scored with the kick.
Olaleye continued to impress, causing problems for the Hemel defence. But at the other end, Hitchin had a let-off when Dillon struck a post. Another attack saw Paul Edgeworth head over the bar from close range and Dillon missed another chance to score against his old club. Sinclair had another chance, heading wide.
In the closing minutes, Carl Williams sent over a cross which was almost turned into his own goal by Matt Gearing.
Hitchin: Perks, Deeney, Frater, L.Gentle-King, Ducket, Sealey (Miller 80), Williams, Hill, Mills, Pringle (Jackman, 75), Olaloye