Hitchin Town Football Club

AFC Sudbury 0 Hitchin Town 2

Tuesday, August 18 2009

Hitchin went top of the Zamaretto Midlands Division with a comprehensive 2-0 win at highly-fancied AFC Sudbury.

If it wasn’t for former Canaries keeper Richard Wilmot, Hitchin may have doubled the scoreline. After two games, the signs are that Colin Payne’s team should be among the challengers for promotion this season.

From the start, Hitchin’s pace unsettled a lumbering Sudbury defence that at times, resorted to strong-arm tactics that upset the Hitchin players. Tony Fontenelle, who had an outstanding game, went close with header early on and Jamie Arlick forced Wilmot to push a shot round the post as the Canaries dominated the early exchanges.

In the 21st minute, Arlick struck the woodwork with a low shot after Chris Tracey lost possession.

Sudbury had the better of the closing stages of the first period, Stuart Ainsley  and Paul Jones both going close following breakaways.

Hitchin started the second half well and both Fontenelle and Ieuan Lewis were denied by Wilmot. But in the 53rd minute, they broke the deadlock. Zak Burke crossed, Carl Williams touched the ball back and Arlick struck a superb shot into the net from 10 yards.

Nine minutes later, Hitchin extended their lead. Fontenelle again caused problems for the home defence, Wilmot blocked his initial shot from a tight angle, but his second, low drive found the back of the net.

Wilmot prevented Arlick from adding to the Canaries’ tally and Burke was only inches wide with a free kick. But the miss of the net was substitute Richard Howell’s, who blasted wildly across goal after seemingly completing the hard task of getting round the Sudbury defence.

At the other end, Sudbury threatened in the latter part of the game, Bradley Hughes having two attempts on goal that were wide of the target.

AFC Sudbury (0)0 Hitchin Town (0)2

0-1 Arlick 53 mins
0-2 Fontenelle 62 mins

AFC Sudbury: Wilmot, Speed, Parkinson, Tracey (Haynes-Brown 80), Darg, Baillie, J.Brown (B.Hughes 63), D.Brown, C.Hughes, Jones, Ainsley

Hitchin: Bennett, Grinham (Payne 59), Fontenelle, Velandia (Howell 70), Smith, Gilbert, Williams, Lewis, Arlick, L.Donnelly, Burke

Attendance: 205 (40 from Hitchin)
Referee: C.J. Francis