Hitchin Town Football Club

Romulus 2 Hitchin Town 3

Tuesday, November 3 2009

Hitchin went back to the top of the Zamaretto Midland Division with a hard fought victory that maintained their 100% away record in the league this season.

Although rarely at their best, the victory underlined the confidence and determination that runs through Colin Payne’s side.

Jeff Hammond, who has struggled to find his form this season, scored twice in the first half as the Canaries took advantage of defensive slip-ups.

Hammond’s first goal came after 19 minutes and was almost a replica of Jamie Arlick’s goal at Bromsgrove recently. Goalkeeper Matt Seargent missed a through ball and Hammond netted with a simple tap-in.

Hammond scored again on 34 minutes, beating Seargent to the ball after Arlick’s cross eluded two defenders.

Romulus pulled a goal back just before the interval in a move that started with the breakdown of a Hitchin attack. Arlick had a shot saved but the ball was immediately sent downfield from a free kick the unmarked Colm Tiernan headed home.

The second period started in scrappy fashion, but what chances there were fell to the Canaries. Arlick had a shot cleared of the line and Ashley Grinham shot over after a good run.

Romulus thought they had equalised when they got the ball in the net on 73 minutes, but the referee ruled the effort out for a foul on Bennett.

Four minutes from time, Hitchin grabbed their third goal after Richard Howell was tripped in the penalty area. Jamie Arlick took the penalty kick and scored his 10th of the season.

The scoring wasn’t finished, for in the 89th minute, Davion Hamilton shot home from close range to put pressure on Hitchin in the closing stages. Despite a prolonged added time period, the home side could not find a third goal, so Colin Payne got his wish of prolonging his side’s excellent away record.

Romulus (1)2 Hitchin Town (2)3

0-1 Hammond 19 mins
0-2 Hammond 34 mins
1-2 Timmins 45 mins
1-3 Arlick pen 86  mins
2-3 Hamilton 89 mins

Romulus: Seargent, Leon Brown (Craven 75), Wilson, Munday, Tiernan, Timmins (Grindison 84), Jackson (Hamilton 58), Franklin, Fagan, Hamilton, Lei Brown

Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle, Grinham, Williams, McDevitt, Gilbert, Lewis,L. Donnelly (Lee 88), Arlick (Payne 90), Hammond (Howell 73), Burke

Referee: P.J.Keane

Attendance: 114 (approx. 35 from Hitchin)