It finished with honours even as this Emirates FA Cup local derby produced a 1-1 draw with the replay at Top Field on Tuesday. Hitchin will feel they should have won having missed a penalty and spurning one golden opportunity but Biggleswade Town had their chances too so a draw was probably a fair result.

As well as facing former player and manager Brett Donnelly Hitchin came up against a number of ex-Canaries. Daniel Sears, Fernando Bell-Toxtle, Rio Dasilva and Taylor Rhiney started and Coree Wilson came on as a substitute. Hitchin were without the suspended Luke Stokoe and Blue Joy while Rio Deall was still injured. Charlie Briggs made a welcome return to the bench while Luton Town loanee Dylan Stitt came straight into the starting line-up.

The early exchanges were even but Hitchin took the lead after 14 minutes when Temi Akinbusoye chased a long ball and got the better of a defender to finish smartly beyond Ashton Broome-Alexander. This was his first goal of the season and will hopefully increase his confidence. Biggleswade came close when Callum Mullins hit the post after 21 minutes before a good 1-2 between Temi and Stitt ended with Temi's shot being blocked. Then George Morrall shot wide before a dangerous cross from Stitt elude the strikers.

Dasilva then equalised with a quality finish after 32 minutes giving Tyler McGregor no chance. Indeed Dasilva was the main threat to Hitchin throughout the game with a number of dangerous runs. Kye Tearle shot way over the bar before Rhiney had a shot blocked. But then in injury time Temi was fouled in the box but Tearle's penalty was saved by Broome-Alexander to deny Hitchin a half-time lead.

Kav Cotter hit a shot over the bar and on the hour Stitt was replaced by Cole Butler and Callum Nicolson by Daniel Stokoe. Butler had a shot easily saved after a good move but on 68 minutes Hitchin should have taken the lead when there was an almighty goalmouth scramble that saw a chance come off the bar and several opportunities for a player to provide the finishing touch but somehow Biggleswade escaped. Sean Duodu came on for Temi and Briggs came on for Simeon Olarerin. Butler was looking sharp and had another shot before Rhiney put a great chance wide when he should have scored. The final change saw Diogo Freitas-Gouveiare place Morrall and he created some dangerous moments.

The winning goal eluded both sides and a replay now awaits. Manager Michael Jones was disappointed as he thought we had the opportunity to win but did not take the chances created and felt the goal conceded could have been avoided. The attendance was 404 with a large Hitchin contingent boosting the numbers well above the Biggleswade average.