This was an unusual fixture for Hitchin. They were playing rock bottom AFC Dunstable who had lost their previous 20 league games and had a negative goal difference of 75. So Hitchin were in what could be described as a no win situation. Everybody expected them to win and win big and the management had worked hard on the players' mentality in the build up to try and make sure they had full concentration and no complacency. The outcome was more than satisfactory as the expected win was emphatic and to score eight goals was a very good return even if more goals should have been scored. Manager Michael Jones was satisfied and had the bonus of having rotated the squad to ensure players who have been occupying the substitute's bench started the game.

Brett Langden and Charlie Briggs were rested from the squad with Blue Joy, Toby Syme, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia and Kavan Cotter starting and Taylor Rhiney and Josh Coldicott-Stevens dropping to the bench with Josh Jackman, George Morrall and Fernando Bell-Toxtle. The team showed the quality and depth of the squad which will be needed as the games come thick and fast. 

It was not a great playing surface and Hitchin while dominating possession did not make a fast start. Cieran Jones had a header from a Callum Nicolson corner go wide and Lewis Franklin had a shot saved early on. Then Freitas-Gouveia had a shot well saved by Noah Vaughan and from the resulting corner he tipped a Jones header over the bar. Callum Kane shot over the bar and a goal was coming. It duly arrived after 24 minutes and it was that familiar combination of a Callum Nicolson corner being headed home by Jones. Indeed Nicolson's corners caused havoc all through the game. 

Once the first goal had been scored it became a matter of how many more Hitchin would score. AFC Dunstable were outclassed but never gave up despite the goals being conceded. Jones headed over another Nicolson corner before the second goal arrived after 38 minutes. There was a good move between Franklin and Kane which ended with a crisp finish from Kane. The third goal again started with a Nicolson corner that Jones headed on and it was Joy who put away the loose ball. Just 3 minutes later it was 4-0 and it was at the third attempt that Franklin beat Vaughan comprehensively.

The first half ended with the result already decided as AFC Dunstable posed no threat and indeed Tyler McGregor did not have a shot to save in the whole game. The only disappointment was the number of times the offside flag was raised as players were perhaps too anxious to add to the scoreline.

The fifth goal came after 52 minutes following efforts from Franklin and Liam Brooks. It was Franklin with a very good finish giving Vaughan no chance. Four minutes later Joy got his second goal and again it came from a Nicolson corner. It was Nicolson himself who scored the seventh goal after good work by Will McNeill. By 71 minutes all 5 substitutes were on the pitch and it was one of them who got the eighth goal. Rhiney made a strong run and finished well after 74 minutes.

No more goals came and Vaughan made a brilliant save from Taylor before the end. So Hitchin inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season on AFC Dunstable and helped their goal difference. The whole squad were involved and it was a professional performance in a game when it would have been easy to take their eye off the ball. There will be harder tasks to come but Hitchin are in a good place to keep pressing Leighton. Hitchin may need to win all their remaining games to overtake Leighton but they have recovered well from the Leverstock Green defeat and with the great support behind them this can be achieved.