This win, in the only league game on the day, takes us up to 12th in the Calor League Premier Division table and with nine points from our last twelve also 10th in the league’s current form tables. Confirmation of manager Steve Massey’s confidence that the squad could turn things around.
It didn’t go all our way early on though as once again a goal was conceded from a free-kick set piece! Poor defending was how Massey summed it up as Dan Webb scored from close in after 15 minutes to give Hitchin the lead.
A clear cut penalty decision allowed recent signing Steve Tully (pictured) to equalise from the penalty spot 8 minutes later after Cody Cooke was fouled in the area and with the half-time whistle about to blow, the in-form Liam Eddy made it 2-1 for the White Tigers.
His seventh of the season was a typical “poacher’s goal”, poking the ball home after a great shot by Cooke came off Bell, the home ‘keeper.
Neil Slateford increased the lead shortly after the break but with Hitchin making it 3-2 through Simon Martin, we had a long time to ensure no mistakes and collect our first back to back wins since the beginning of last season when we won 2-0 at Weston-super-Mare and then followed it up with the same scoreline at home to Borehamwood on the 1st September. 14 months ago!
Steve Massey has been telling us that that he knew his side would be capable of better things and this win at Hitchin, with a number of excellent performances throughout the line-up, was testament to his belief.
The Manager’s Man of the Match was Cody Cooke who also confirmed that the confidence level is understandably increasing: “It was a great result for the boys. I thought in the first half we kept the ball well and created a lot of chances. The second half saw us under a bit more pressure, but we dug deep and managed to stop them scoring the equaliser. That’s 3 out of 4 wins in the league now, which gives us all a big confidence and a run of form!!”
Hitchin Town: Bell; Rolfe, Bickerstaff, Wenn, Pearson, Barker, Donnelly, McGeorge, Burns, Martin, Lowe.
Subs: Noone, Wharton, King, Burtenshaw, Baker.
City: Chenoweth, Tully, White, Kendall, Pugh, Broad, Cooke, Lowry, Eddy, Slateford, Afful (Copp 83).
Subs not used : Evans, Daw, Sims
Crowd: 320.