Hitchin Town Football Club

Eastbourne Town 1 Hitchin Town 3

Saturday, October 22 2011

Hitchin eased past Eastbourne Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy thanks to a hat-trick from leading scorer John Frendo.

Highlights

12- Lewis cross to Frendo at the far post and a tame finish makes it 0-1
15- Frendo booked

33- Frendo brought down by Eastbourne keeper Thorp, penalty. Frendo scores 0-2

43- Gregson finds Frendo who secures his hat-trick 0-3

90- May sent off for Eastbourne

90- Greenfield scores for Eastbourne 1-3

Weather: Autumnal sun, slight wind

Pitch: Dry and bumpy in patches

Attendance: 181

The bells from the nearby Eastbourne law courts tolled three times during the first half of this FA Trophy, and each time, they rang out in celebration of a John Frendo goal.

Talk of banana skins soon diminished as Frendo demonstrated his sublime finishing skills against the Ryman Division One South side. Hitchin comfortably disposed of their hosts and it was only an added time goal that gave the scoreline some respectability.

Frendo gave an early indication of his intentions when he raced through in the opening minutes and shot over the bar. But in the 12th minute, Frendo opened the scoring when he sent a delicately placed shot into the corner of the net from a cross by Ieuan Lewis.

Frendo increased the lead on 33 minutes, scoring from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Eastbourne keeper Keiron Thorp. The youngster was fortunate that Mr. Venamore brandished only a yellow card for his actions.

Two minutes before the break, Frendo netted again, sliding the ball home after Luke Gregson’s good work. The game was now won. Zak Burke and Lewis could have added even more gloss to the first half scoreline.

The second half was far more sedate, with the Canaries comfortable and already looking forward to the second qualifying round draw. Frendo almost grabbed another one when he met Mitchell Cole’s cross at the near post, and Burke, James Edgerley and Lewis wasting good chances.

The game sprung to life again in the final minute. Firstly, Eastbourne’s Steve May was red carded for a vicious foul on Carl Williams – making a rare appearance as substitute – and then Richard Greenfield scored with a shot to Martin Bennett’s right.

The teams



Eastbourne Town: Thorp, Davidon, Kessack (Greenfield h/t), Brooks, Fogden, May, Elliott, S.Crabb, N.Crabb, Denton (Freeman 27), Geard (Legate 40)


Goal: Greenfield 90



Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle, Pepper, Leach, Gilbert, Gregson, Lewis, Donnelly (Edgerley 70), Burke, Frendo (Williams 65), Cole

Goals: Frendo 12, 33-pen, 43



Referee: L. Venamore

Assistants: E.Amir and P.Yates

Photo: Geoff Tomasson

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