Hitchin Town (a) on Sat 10th Dec 2011, KO 15:00

[Daedalus]

Southern League Premier Division -
Hitchin Town (16th) v St. Albans City (14th)
Saturday 10th December 2011, KO 15:00

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/1310719688_large.jpg

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/777836055.jpg v No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/stalbans.jpg

Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1NU
No images allowed -http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/assets/images/Hitchin_v_Mangotsfield_14.jpg
Copyright David Bauckham, Centre Circle Publishing. No reproduction without prior permission.

STATTO'S CORNER (written by Daedalus):

Hitchin Town Quick Guide:
Club founded: 1865*
Nickname: Canaries
Club colours: Yellow and green
10 year record:

01-02	02-03	03-04	04-05	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11
IsthP 11th	IsthP 14th	IsthP 20th	SthP 18th	SthP 14th	SthP 11th	SthP 18th	SthP 20th	SthM 2nd	SthD1C 2nd

*Hitchin Town can trace its roots back to 1865 when Hitchin FC was formed. The club took part in the first FA Cup in 1871-72, and reached the quarter finals of the competition, losing to eventual finalists Royal Engineers. That first Hitchin club came to an end in 1911. In 1928, the Hitchin Town FC club was formed.

Read more about Hitchin Town's club history by clicking here.


Interesting links:

Hitchin Town's official website

Directions and how to get to Top Field

Pyramid Passions page on Top Field

Hitchin Town fans' forum

A report of Hitchin's last outing in the league, which was a 1-0 defeat away to Evesham United. On Tuesday night, they played Stevenage in the Herts Senior Cup and lost 2-0 at Top Field. You can read that report by clicking here.

You can see Hitchin's results so far this season by clicking here.

At the time of writing, there have been no announcements regarding CITYLIVE coverage of this game. Regardless, we hope to have some updates here on the forum.


Current Form (last 5 matches in the league):

Hitchin Town - DLDDL (home form - LWLDD)

St. Albans City - WDLLL (away form - DLLLL)


Top league goalscorer(s):
St. Albans City - The Saints have had 12 different goalscorers in the league so far this season. Sakho Bakare is currently leading the goalscoring charts for the Saints with 5 league goals.

Hitchin Town - John Frendo scored a lot of goals for the Canaries at Step 4 over the last couple of seasons as they were chasing promotion. Frendo has been on good form again this year, recording 11 goals.


Latest Saints team news:

- Ryan Moran four match suspension kicks in for this match. He won't be available for selection.

- Paul Furlong was suspended for the last match but should be back to possibly feature in this one.

- Simon Martin has rejoined the Saints and he played his first match since returning against Barwell last weekend. Another new signing who played last weekend was fullback Narada Bernard.

- Howell has moved to bring in experienced midfielder Micah Hyde during the last week. Read the full article on the official site here - www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-latest-club-news/1769-howell-seeks-and-finds-hyde.html

- Jerome Walker has left the Saints to join Met Police. Reece Yorke is another player to have left the club. He has moved to Northwood.

- Mo Shariff won't be returning to the Saints as he has taken up an offer to go on loan to Staines Town.

- Matt Cutchey rejoins the Saints after a brief loan spell with Billericay.

- We'll add any other team news here as it comes out nearer to the game.


Possible Saints starting XI (in a 4-4-2 formation):

No images allowed -http://footballformation.co.uk/team/442/091211110449.png

Quick Stats Guide (league matches only):

Hitchin Town:
- Not won for 8 games
- Not won at home for 3 games
- Not scored at home for 2 games
- One win in 9
- 9 points out of the last 30

St. Albans City:
- Worst goals against column in the league having conceded 45 goals in 20 games (average goals conceded is 2.25 a game)
- Lost last three
- Not won for 4 games
- Not won away for 8 games
- Not scored away for 2 games
- One win in 7
- 9 points out of the last 30

[Daedalus]

No Final Word for this game, so I've just put some basic links up to answer the usual questions.

How did the Saints get on against Barwell?

Match report of out last game - www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/localsport/9400851.City_Panto_turns_into_a_farce_at_Clarence_Park/


What did David Howell have to say about it?

Some of Howell's interview comments are covered in this article - www.stalbansreview.co.uk/sport/localsport/9403854.Saints_boss_admits_there_is_something_wrong_with_his_side/

This is the actual interview - www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-manager-interview/1768-david-howell-reflects-on-citys-third-successive-defeat.html


How are Hitchin Town getting on this season?

Hitchin Town results so far this season - www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/teams/first/fixtures/fixture_list.shtml

Last league match - www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/reports/2011_12/EveshamUnitedAwayESP.shtml

Last match on Tuesday night in HSC - www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/reports/2011_12/StevenageHomeHSC.shtml

[Daedalus]

The City Archives - Biggleswade Town, 1963[/u]

We have a new feature to place alongside our previews this season, as one of Saints Chat's regular posters, Brummie, delves into the history books to provide us with match reports from the past. This gives a chance to walk down memory lane, or learn a little about City's past, before the next match in the present!

This time, Brummie has given us a typed report of a match that took place in 1963 against Biggleswade Town. Over to Brummie for the report!

F A Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

September 21st 1963

BIGGLESWADE TOWN v ST ALBANS CITY

Oh dear, what a nightmare for the Citizens!. In the first half their left back Tom Fearey was sent off and then, after leading 1-4 with less than fifteen minutes to play, they lost sensationally 5-4.

An own goal helped Biggleswade on their way and it was all rather remarkable to see the United Counties League club, who had been outclassed for most of the game, actually winning the F A Cup 2nd qualifying round tie.

It was a cracking last quarter hour for the Biggleswade fans, who saw a once perky St Albans team thrown into a panic after centre-half Tony Quick, deputising for skipper Dave Bromley, deflect the ball into his own net to make the score 3-4.

This goal really turned the tide for the home club, who had been outplayed in all departments. The quick moving St Albans attack, spearheaded by centre-forward Brian Nesbitt, had ripped Biggleswade’s defence apart time after time.

Inside-forward Herbie Smith and wing-half Alan McDonnell were other key players in a side which, until those last minutes of drama, kept its rhythm even after losing Fearey.

He was sent off in the 35th minute after being involved in an incident with Cleland, the centre forward. It seemed as though the referee was going to book Fearey, but then something happened to make him change his mind. But when the heat was really on near the end, his absence must have been felt considerably.

From the start City looked a far better side against a Biggleswade side which contained eight part time professionals.

Benson’s goal was not too seriously threatened , however, until the 22nd minute when Eddie Rolfe cut in on his own and was bundled off the ball by King. A penalty it was and McDONNELL blasted the ball in.

Immediately after an unhappy Fearey was sent off Biggleswade equalised direct from a free kick with HETHERINGTON heading home.

But just on half time St Albans were back in front despite having only ten men SMIITH having little trouble to score from close range.

Four minutes into the second half the Citizens claimed a fluke goal from McDONNELL who beat everybody and Benson‘s desperate stretch backwards to fist it away, the ball dropping under the bar and into the net.

When inside-left HAYWOOD touched the ball into the net 20 minutes later to the score 4-1 the game looked over with Biggleswade desperately making positional switches.

But one of their positional; changes took City by surprise for Easton, moving from centre-half into the attack, immediately got away and keeper Mike Lucker had to turn his shot over the bar.

In the 73rd minute the blitz started with LOASBY volleying the ball in, following a corner from the right. Two minutes later came the tragic own goal by QUICK and then EASTON hammered home the equaliser after another corner.

Three minutes later the Waders fans went wild with joy, and surprise, as HETHERINGTON’S shot just scraped in through a crowded goalmouth to complete a fantastic finish which will be talked about for many a day in Biggleswade.

Back in Hertfordshire it will be a match that St Albans supporters will want to forget, and quickly.

Biggleswade 5 St Albans City 4

Team. M Lucker, A Hoare, T Fearey, P Wood, T Quick, A McDonnell, E Rolfe, H Smith, B Nesbitt, A Haywood and K Dowler.

Thanks, as always, go to Brummie for delving into the City Archives to provide us with an interesting read alongside our usual match previews!

[asaintreborn]

No images allowed -http://footballformation.co.uk/team/442/091211175525.png

The team I think David Howell might play.

oops also swap Harriman and Bernard around

[Daedalus]

Hitchin Town preview is up - www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/teams/previews/20111209512724289031.shtml

[Boomer]

So it looks like Inih Effiong is in their squad for tomorrow. Don't you just know he is going to score against us!

[Deleted]

Dec 9, 2011 21:35:30 GMT Boomer said:

So it looks like Inih Effiong is in their squad for tomorrow. Don't you just know he is going to score against us!

They've also signed Inih Essiong on-loan
www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/articles/weekly_articles/20111209350869015374.shtml

It is something of a coup for us to sign a young talented player of his quality.

More than likely score a hat-trick against our defence at the moment then fail to score in any other game of his loan period !

[Saint]

We'll be providing updates from the match in this thread

[bowsaint]

Thanks Saint, any idea of the team?

[Saint]

Today's team: Jupp; Harriman; Bernard; Ijaha; Cutchey; Gray; Shields; Hyde; Furlong; Martin; Watts. Subs; Bakare; Matthews; Jinadu; Haworth; Lansiquot.

[bowsaint]

Thanks Saint - on paper that looks like a pretty strong team but i'm not sure about having 2 strikers who will hold the ball up. Would have been a lot happier with Walker and/or Furlong/Haworth/Martin.

[brummie]

www.livescores.co.uk/football/england/southern-premier-league/


Here's the livescore site although it can be very slow. I'd be inclined to rely on Saint's updates.

[Saint]

First effort on target, Furlong header grasped by keeper.,

[Saint]

Goal: Furlong, 20th(ish) minute. Clinical finish.

[Saint]

Frendo hits the post for Hitchin.

[Hatboy]

Come on let's at least hold the lead til half time and wait for one of those wonderful speeches

[Saint]

Cutchey clears off the line.

[Saint]

Watts clips a cross just wide.

[Saint]

Our final delivery has been the only dissapointment so far.

[Saint]

2-0. Gray volleys a Watts corner home. 43rd minute.

[COYS]

Great stuff. Now let's have a clean sheet please! COYS

[Saint]

3-0. Gray heads a Watts free kick home. 45th minute. Saints fans chanting 'Easy, Easy'

[Saint]

HT: Saints 3-0.

[Deleted]

Great stuff cheers for updates!

[Hatboy]

Surely even we can't blow a 3 goal lead even after the half time team talk against a side doing as bad as us

[Saint]

Several shots on target, mainly from Sean Shields.

[Saint]

Effiong has been dissapoiting for Hitchin.

[brummie]

Dec 10, 2011 16:08:26 GMT Hatboy said:

Surely even we can't blow a 3 goal lead even after the half time team talk against a side doing as bad as us

Don't tempt fate Hatboy. Lol

[Saint]

Sub: Bakare on for Furlong.

[brummie]

Thanks in adavance for the updates Saint