Hitchin Town Football Club

Leverstock Green 2 Hitchin Town 1

Tuesday, November 10 2009

Hitchin were bundled out of the Herts Senior Cup by Spartan South Midlands League side Leverstock Green.

A disappointing second half performance ended with Leverstock Green scoring a 73rd minute winner to deprive the Canaries of the plum tie against neighbours Stevenage Borough.

It was a slightly changed Hitchin side, but nevertheless contained the bulk of Colin Payne’s first choice eleven.

Hitchin took the lead after 15 minutes when Jamie Arlick netted after a clever one-two with Jeff Hammond. Earlier chances fell to both players and Lance Gentle-King had two opportunites that were both saved.

But the home side levelled after 29 minutes when Steve Velandia lost possession and Matt Wardle found the back of the net.

Hitchin made three changes at the interval, but they were unable to create the chances they needed to regain the lead. Amid the frustration, Leverstock Green scored what proved to be the decisive goal when Dale Sears shot home from long range.

Hitchin pressed, but didn’t look like retrieving the situation and it was the Step Five side that was celebrating at the final whistle.

Hitchin: Haggerty, Grinham (McDevitt h/t), Reece, Williams, Gentle-King, Arlick (Howell h/t), Fontenelle, Lee (Swaine h/t), Hammond, Velandia, Lewis