Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 4 Crystal Palace 3

Saturday, August 6 2011

And now for the real stuff. Nine games in 26 days is more than enough for even the most dedicated Hitchin fan. Pre-season football has never lured the faithful out of their summer slumbers at Top Field, and this campaign has been no different. But those that didn’t turn up for this game with a youthful Crystal Palace XI missed the most entertaining of the nonet.

Seven goals meant plenty of entertainment, but it also meant Hitchin conceded three more – making it 12 in three games.

Luke Gregson, who had a fine game, opened the scoring for the Canaries after 14 minutes, skilfully controlling the ball and firing home on the volley.

Palace levelled on 38 minutes when William Cole rounded Martin Bennett and slotted into the net.
But within seconds, Hitchin restored their lead, Jamie Arlick beating off a challenge, chesting the ball down and shooting low past keeperTom King.

In the 58th minute, Palace equalised once more, Jordan Clarke racing through and delicately flicking the ball over Bennett.

Three minutes later, Arlick scored his second goal when he headed home at the far post from a pinpoint cross from James Edgerley.

Palace made it 3-3 with seven minutes remaining when Hiram Boateng was allowed the time and space to run into the area to pick his spot. But in the 88th minute, Hitchin scored again, Gregson heading past King from a cross by Seni Diedhiou.

Hitchin: Bennett, Pepper, Leach, Stewart, Gilbert, Gregson, Donnelly (Diedhiou 59), Lee (Payne 63), Arlick, Frendo (Edgerley h/t), Lewis (Adam 74)
Crystal Palace XI: King, Holness, Williams, Snow, Inniss, Diamond, DeSilva, Kadel, Bola, Cole, Clarke
Subs: Boateng, Woodley, Sulley, Crull, Callaghan, Fitzsimmons, Gregory

Attendance: 187
Referee: C.Henry

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