On Monday night Nuneaton Borough visited Hitchin Town in the hopes of gaining some consistency after claiming a vital 3 points at home to Coalville Town last Saturday. Hitchin knew that a win would send them into the play-off places.

The game began with Boro dominating possession and pinning the Canaries in their own half, with the pace of Matty Stenson and strength of Leroy Lita being a handful for the home side. The first key chance of the game came in the 9th minute when Kyle Storer’s Corner was headed towards goal by Isaiah Osbourne but heroically cleared off the line. Only a minute later, Alex Lafleur had a powerful effort pushed over the bar by the keeper. Boro continued to push for the opening with the best chance of the game falling to Matty Stenson who pounced on a loose ball and chipped the keeper but just over hit it. After the 20th minute, the game fell flat, with a lack of chances, with only 2 efforts from distance from Kye Tearle and Kavan Cotter for the home side before half time, which flew over the bar.

Half Time 0-0

The second half saw the Canaries come out completely rejuvenated with their pace on the attack instantly putting Boro on the back foot. In the 48th minute Boro paid the price, with a corner being cleared only as far as Stanley Georgiou who fired a deflected effort into the bottom right corner from around 20 yards. From this moment on Boro looked rattled as the Canaries continued to push bodies forward. Finley Wilkinson’s tidy footwork was able to deceive Scott McManus in the 54th minute, who slid in a late challenge, giving the home side a penalty, which was dispatched with ease by the same man who won it. The Canaries were in complete control after cementing their lead, as Boro sent long balls forward which were easily handled with, in what was a very desperate attempt to get back into the game. In the 83rd minute Boro’s leaky defence was exposed yet again as Daniel Idiakhoa went on a surging run beating 5 players with his pace and intricate footwork, placing a precise effort into the bottom right corner, leaving Liam Castle stood helpless, sealing the result for the home side. In the 89th minute it could have been a lot worse for Boro as a failed clearance fell to the home side but they failed to convert. On the whole, this was a night to forget for the Boro who will now look forward to their next clash at home to Royston Town to make amends.

Full Time 3-0

Lineups:
Nuneaton Borough
12. Liam Castle
3. Alexander Lafleur
4. Kyle Storer
5. Victor Nirennold
6. Scott McManus ©
7. Connor Furlong
8. Prince Mancinelli
10. Matthew Stenson
16. Leroy Bohari Lita
18. Lathaniel Rowe Turner
20. Isaiah Osbourne

Substitutes
1. Dan Jezeph 9. Connor Tomlinson 13. Daniel Edmonds 14. Elwalid Elhaghany 19.Callum Chettle.

Hitchin Town
1.Charlie Horlock ©
2.Bradley Bell
3.Daniel Emovon
4.Toby Syme
5.Cieren Jones
6.Lewis Barker
7.Kye Tearle
8.Stanley Georgiou
9.Daniel Idiakhoa
10.Kavan Cotter
11.Finley Wilkinson

Substitutes
12.Isaac Galliford 13. Joshua Mollison 14.Layne Eadie 15. Stephen Gleason 16. George Devine.

Attendance: 435