Manager Michael Jones did not hide his anger at this sub standard performance by Hitchin. He apologised to the supporters saying the team were ''miles off it''. He said we deserved to lose and our organisation was poor. Jones said we only had moments in the game and went backwards from where we were after recent performances. He had rotated the squad after a hard game on Saturday with four changes but there was not the impact he expected. He is now looking for a reaction at Biggleswade Town on Saturday to get the season back on track.

Charlie Johnson headed over after 6 minutes before a good run and cross from Temi Akinbusoye was cleared for a corner. Diogo Freitas-Gouveia shot over the bar after a good move and then Temi had a shot cleared off the line. At the other end Jack Smith hit a free kick just wide of the post before Toby Syme left the pitch injured to be replaced by Callum Nicolson. Then on 31 minutes Stortford took the lead. Leon Davies crossed from the left and Frank Norris provided the finish. Hitchin did not create much before the half time whistle.

In the second half Hitchin did improve but did not really threaten and were lacking up front. Freitas-Gouveia had a shot saved at the expense of a corner and Temi and Luke Stokoe also forced Max Woodford into making saves. Sean Duodo replaced Freitas-Gouveia and had a shot deflected wide after a good pass from Nicolson. But Stortford scored their second goal after 63 minutes when a pass from Frank Norris set Tyler Baker free and he finished well after a good run.

Cieran Jones headed wide after 75 minutes but Hitchin did not really look like getting back into the game despite further substitutions and Stortford comfortably held on for their first win of the season which left Hitchin in the relegation zone. This display was poor and all the more surprising after recent games when there had been such promising signs. Hopefully this was a temporary blip and Saturday will see a return to the form Hitchin are capable of producing.

There was a surprise among the 491 crowd with rock superstar Rod Stewart in attendance.