Hitchin Town Football Club

Bromsgrove Rovers 0 Hitchin Town 1

Saturday, October 24 2009

Grinding out results is going to be important if Hitchin are to win promotion this season, and against crisis-club Bromsgrove that’s exactly what Colin Payne’s men did. A first half goal was enough to win the game and send the Canaries back to the top of the table.

The matchwinner was Jamie Arlick, who is shaping up as a real find for Payne. But equally important was the Canaries’ defensive display where once more Mark Smith and Dean Gilbert played a major part.

Hitchin had early chances through Zak Burke, but in a scruffy first period, there were few changes. The goal came in the 19th minute and owed much to s slip up by Bromsgrove keeper Karl Lewis. He misjudged a long ball into the Rovers half and it bounced over his head to Arlick, who had the simple task of scoring.

The goal promised a convincing win for Hitchin and if Jeff Hammond had scored when he was clean through, it may have been that way, but there was a lack of conviction in the finishing. Bromsgrove had little to offer, looking like a demoralised unit.

Hitchin received a boost from the introduction of Richard Howell, and the former Bishop’s Stortford midfielder created a chance for Burke at the far post, but his shot was wide. Shortly afterwards, Bromsgrove had their best chance of the game, a near post header by Jermiah Richards that was saved by Martin Bennett.

Arlick could have had a second goal when he was set up by Howell, but shot wildly, and Burke volleyed over from close range. But the most glaring miss was Brett Donnelly’s, a tame effort after Lewis was stranded a yards from goal.

This win won’t count as the best performance from Payne’s resurgent side, but it is at places like Bromsgrove that promotion campaigns are built.

Bromsgrove Rovers (0)0 Hitchin Town (1)1

0-1 Arlick 19 mins

Bromsgrove: Lewis, Darby, Gill, Gardner (White 80), Street, Lloyd, Jones, Scheppel, Richard, McKenzie (Campbell 71), Findlay
Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle, Grinham, Lee, Smith, Gilbert, Lewis, L.Donnelly, Arlick (Gentle-King 89), Hammond (Howell 57), Burke (B.Donnelly 76)

Attendance: 272 (40 from Hitchin)
Referee: D.Aguilar