Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 0 Braintree Town 5

Thursday, August 4 2011

It was a case of "a bridge too far" for the Canaries as they were outplayed by Blue Square Premier new-boys Braintree Town. The gap was just too big - as evidenced by the five-goal drubbing dished out.

But Hitchin will not come up against many teams of this quality in 2011-12. They were more then generous to the visitors and the Essex side punished some lack-lustre defending.

Braintree scored all five goals in the first half, but which time the Canaries were crestfallen.

Sean Marks headed Braintree in front on eight minutes and Chib Chilacka took advantage of a defensive slip to make it 2-0 after 23 minutes.

Bradley Quinton ran through to score number three after 24 minutes.

Hitchin did have some chances - Ieuan Lewis blasted just wide and James Edgerley saw his shot whistle past the post.

But Braintree scored two in a minute through Marks and Chilacka in the 44th minute.

In the second half, the Hitchin defence tightened up and no more goals were conceded. John Frendo and Callum Donnelly both had chances to pull a goal back, but this was an evening to forget for the Canaries.

Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle (Muhamed 76), Bickerstaff (Leach h/t), Stewart, Gilbert, Lee, Lewis, Donnelly, Arlick (Osbourne 73), Frendo, Edgerley (Diedhiou 55)
Braintree: McDonald, O'Connor, Peters (Constantine h/t), Bailey-Dennis, Payne, Reason, James-Lewis, Quinton, Chilacka (Wright h/t), Marks (Symonds h/t) Letchmere

Referee: R.Smith
Attendance: 118

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