Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 1 Hinckley United 2

Saturday, October 11 2008

Hitchin’s FA Cup dreams were shattered deep into added time against Blue Square North side Hinckley United.

The Canaries were seconds away from a replay in Leicestershire when Andy Hall struck the winner, just a few minutes after Darran Hay’s men had equalised Hall’s first goal.

Although Hitchin can claim they didn’t deserve to go out in this manner, Hinckley were a strong side that looked like they had something in reserve. Furthermore, they blunted Hitchin’s attack and looked solid at the back. For all Hitchin’s endeavour, the Hinckley goal was rarely threatened.

Hinckley threatened to overrun Hitchin in the opening stages, with burly striker Adam Webster causing problems for the defence. But towards the end of the half, Hitchin grew more confident and Derwayne Stupple had two half chances. But Hinckley went ahead after 54 minutes, Hall heading home from a low cross from Dominic Roma.

Hitchin responded with Luke Gregson trying to meet a Paul Barnes cross but Hinckley almost scored again in the 66^th minute when substitute Alex Taylor, with his first kick, shot against a post.

Webster also went close when his fierce shot was headed away by Dean Gilbert.

Hitchin’s best effort came from Paul Barnes whose shot was cleared off the line by Roma and from the rebound Mark Barnes volleyed high and wide.

Three minutes from time, Hitchin were handed a lifeline when Michael Cox was pushed to the floor by Hinckley goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie. Tyron Sealey took the penalty kick and MacKenzie did his best to stop it, but the ball still rolled slowly into the net.

The game looked set for a replay when Hall half-volleyed home in the 49^th minute of stoppage time. A cruel way to go out of the competition!

Hitchin Town (0)1 Hinckley United (0)2

Hitchin Town: Bennett, Barr (Donnelly 82), Pepper, Williams, Gilbert, Cox, Woolf (Sealey 57), Stupple, P.Barnes, M.Barnes, Gregson (Draycott 69)

Scorer: Sealey -pen 88

Hinckley United: MacKenzie, Roma, Franklin, Giddings, Platnauer, Bonner, Hall, Gouding, Webster, Kelly(Taylor 65), Lloyd (Dozie 84)

Referee: I.J. Rathbone

Attendance: 503

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