Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 0 Stevenage 4

Monday, August 2 2010

The Football League’s newest club arrived at Top Field looking fit, powerful and fleet of foot. Stevenage proved too strong for a team four steps below them in the footballing hierarchy, but the Canaries were not disgraced and gave a good account of themselves.

There were ominous signs, however, with the artists formerly known as “Boro” going two goals ahead after 15 minutes. It took just three minutes for Stevenage to take the lead, Mark Roberts turning and shooting home from six yards.

Roberts was in the mix when the second goal came on 15 minutes, Michael Bostwick applying the final touch following a corner. Hitchin’s sole response was a long-range effort from Tony Fontenelle, but in the early stages, the 401 crowd were not unreasonable to expect a glut of goals from Stevenage.

But Hitchin came back into the game and after good work by Zak Burke, Jamie Arlick shot wide. Four minutes from the interval, however, Charlie Griffin ran onto a through ball by Peter Vincente and the Stevenage striker danced around Hitchin goalkeeper Martin Bennett before scoring.

Stevenage added a fourth on 54 minutes when Chris Beardsley tapped home from inside the six-yard box and Lee Boylan almost added another when his long-range chip was tipped over by Bennett.

Williams was not unhappy with the workout. “Stevenage were strong and they gave us no space and time. We showed some character after conceding the two early goals and I believe we are trying to play the right way. We wish Stevenage well in the Football League,” he said.

Hitchin: Bennett (Haggerty 84), Fontenelle, Pepper, Wordsworth (Smith h/t), Gilbert, C.Donnelly (Byfield 84), Burke, Lee (Lamacraft 61), Arlick, Mustapha (Harrison 61), Lewis
Attendance: 401