Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town 2 Stourbridge 0

Monday, December 19 2011

A win of some substance, against one of the best sides in the Premier, sent Hitchin into the Christmas period in a far better frame of mind.

Highlights
11- Stourbridge’s Dyson hits the woodwork

60- Stewart heads Hitchin in front 1-0

61- Stourbridge strike the bar after a goalmouth scramble

75- Dyson hits the woodwork again

79- Fontenelle is upended and Frendo scores from the spot 2-0

81- Effiong hits the post

Hitchin’s last home game of 2011 ended with the best possible result and provided some relief to those fans who felt the recent win against Weymouth was a flash in the pan. This time, the performance promised, will be different.

Not that the Canaries didn’t ride their luck. The woodwork was struck with alarming frequency and Stourbridge may have headed home feeling a little sense of injustice. But in a season when lady luck hasn’t always smiled on Carl Williams and Co., every little helps.

Stourbridge’s first near miss came in the 11th minute when James Dyson’s header was deflected against the bar by Dean Gilbert. But shortly afterwards, Ieuan Lewis saw his shot cleared off the line and Tony Fontenelle was denied by a last-ditch clearance from John Griffin.

After the interval, Gilbert’s header brought a flying save out of Lewis Solly, the impressive Stourbridge goalkeeper. But on the hour, Gilbert’s central defensive partner, Lawrie Stewart, headed Hitchin in front from a Callum Donnelly free kick. Stourbridge’s response was immediate and amid a goalmouth scramble, the crossbar was struck. And as the visitors pushed forward for an equalizer, Dyson again hit the bar.



In the 79th minute, Hitchin sealed the points. Tony Fontenelle went on a mazy run, drifted past three players and was only stopped by  Sam Smith trip in the area. John Frendo scored from the penalty spot.

Hitchin could have added another when Donnelly teed-up Inih Effiong, but his shot struck a post. The Canaries had already done enough, though, to seal victory.

The teams



Hitchin: Bennett, Fontenelle, Pepper, Stewart, Gilbert, Lee, Donnelly, Gregson, Effiong (Anderon 83), Frendo, Lewis


Goals: Stewart 60, Frendon - pen 79



Stourbridge: Solly, Evans, Griffiths (Billingham 54), Griffin, Canavan (Rock 73), Bennett, Smith, Broadhurst, Rowe, Dyson (Geddes 66), Drake



Referee: M.Wilson

Assistants: T.McCreadie & J.Marin

Attendance: 251

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