Hitchin discovered on Saturday at Rushall that at step 3 you cannot afford to make a slow start because you will be found out. Yet at Top Field against Needham Market exactly the same thing happened—a very slow start led to Needham being two goals up after just seven minutes. Manager Michael Jones described the defending for the two goals as disgraceful. After four minutes Oliver Saunders had an easy finish before three minutes later Kyle Hammond ran unopposed through the Hitchin defence before finishing easily.

So with just 7 minutes on the clock Hitchin had a mountain to climb against a very good Needham side who only just missed out on the play-off's last season. Also Needham are very much a bogey side for Hitchin and this was their eleventh win from thirteen games against the Canaries.

Hitchin did begin to show they can compete at this level and after 24 minutes Callum Kane's shot came back off the bar for Rio Deall to force home from close range. This certainly roused Hitchin and they went on the front foot. George Morrall produced a good run but his pass to Kye Tearle was met by a weak shot. Then Daniel Stokoe was fouled just outside the box but Ciaren Jones put the resulting free kick wide. So Hitchin went to half-time 2-1 down but right back in the game.

After 54 minutes Hitchin so nearly equalised when a stinging shot from Tearle smashed in to the underside of the bar but did not cross the line. Hitchin were now the dominant team as Needham were forced back. After 70 minutes another good run and cross from Morrall just evaded the diving Tearle when any touch could have led to a goal. Needham made several substitutions to stem the flow and Hitchin could not get that equaliser. Then against the run of play Hammond got his second goal direct from a corner after 87 minutes to end Hitchin's hopes.

So Hitchin are pointless after two games but have been undone by slow starts to the game which has to be addressed straight away. They have proved they can compete at this level and once they have got going they have played good football and looked dangerous. It should also be remembered that they were without six injured players—Callum Nicolson, Charlie Briggs, Luke Stokoe, Cole Butler, Sean Duodu and Tyler McGregor—which has obviously impacted the start to the season. A healthy crowd of 677 attended and they saw the character of this Hitchin team and if the lessons are taken on board Hitchin should be fine.