Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 3 Harlow Town 1 / Hitchin Town 0 Aylesbury United 4

Saturday, August 9 2008

There were mixed fortunes for the Canaries in their final two pre-season friendlies. Although the Harlow game was seen as a game against similar opposition, the Aylesbury United game was an opportunity for the Hitchin management to field some trialists. As a result, it was a disjointed performance against a team that ended up winning comfortably.

Against Harlow, Hitchin put on one of their most fluent performances of the pre-season programme. Gordon Barr gave the Canaries the lead after 18 minutes with a fierce drive and after 45 minutes Michael Cox headed the second goal. Three minutes from time, Mark Barnes added a third for Hitchin and it wasn't until right at the end that Danny Green pulled one back for Harlow.

It was a much different Hitchin side that came up against Aylesbury, who included former Canary Stuart Maynard in their line-up. Mick Brooks and Rob Kleiser took the opportunity to look at some potential signings and in a game of multiple substitutions, there was little shape to the Hitchin side.

Aylesbury took the lead though Nick Leach on 18 minutes and further goals came from Glen Hawkins, Aaron Flood and a penalty by Liam Smyth in the final minute. Hitchin ended the game with 10 men after an injury to Luke Gregson.

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