Hitchin Town Football Club

Oxford City 2 Hitchin Town 3

Tuesday, August 19 2008

Don't be misled by the narrow scoreline, the Canaries were convincing winners against newly promoted Oxford City as they won their first points of the season.

For an hour, Hitchin looked a class above their hosts and they strode into a three-goal lead thanks to some clinical finishing.

Right from the start, Hitchin looked to have gained a yard in pace from the opening day of the campaign. It wasn't long before they took the lead, with new signing Jonathan Woolf marking his league debut with a goal. Paul Barnes received the ball from Ian Draycott and his shot struck a post, only for Woolf to follow up from close range to score.

In a frantic opening spell, Barnes could have grabbed a hat-trick. His first chance came when Derwayne Stupple fed him and he shot wide, then another effort was tipped round the post by goalkeeper Steve Smith. As the first period drew to a close, Barnes was involved again, volleying over after the ball fell kindly for him in the penalty area.

Barnes demonstrated his pace in the opening 30 seconds of the restart. He dashed down the wing, crossed and Draycott hit a first time shot high into the net – a truly outstanding goal.

Hitchin remained on top until the 65th minute when Barnes at last got himself on the scoresheet. His first effort, a delightful chip, sailed over Smith and struck the crossbar. The ball came back and Barnes moved forward to head into the net.

Surprisingly, Oxford were given a lifeline almost immediately after Barnes' well deserved goal. Substitute Yashwa Romeo sent a near post header past Martin Bennett from a corner. In the 69th minute, the margin was reduced to one goal as Romeo was upended in the box and James Saulsbury netted from the penalty spot.

There were a few flutters, but neither side created anything of note in the final 20 minutes, leaving Hitchin to claim their first win of the new campaign. "Much better," said manager Darran Hay. "We played some good football and thoroughly deserved to win."

Oxford City: Smith, Saulsbury, Weedon, Gunn, Pond (Redknap 64), Allaway, Bell, Malone, Faulconbridge, Baird (Romeo 60)

Hitchin Town: Bennett, Cox, Pepper, Williams, Gilbert, Smith, Gregson, Stupple, P.Barnes, Draycott (M.Barnes 77), Woolf (Barr 77)

Referee: A.J. Groves

Attendance: 210

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