Football can be a cruel game as Hitchin discovered on Saturday as a 92^nd minute Leiston goal ended their FA Cup dreams for another season. Hitchin deserved a replay after fighting back in the second half against a very good Leiston team who had been on top in the first half.

Team news was that Sean Duodu made his first start of the season but Rio Deall and Teme Akinbusoye were still missing through injury. Hitchin started well in the first 10 minutes and Dylan Stitt set up Kye Tearle for a shot that was fumbled by goalkeeper Callum Robinson. An error by Callum Kane then saw Tyler McGregor make a good save from Harvey Sayer. Leiston began to display some good passing football and they looked very comfortable on the ball.

Leiston took the lead after 28 minutes when a good cross by the dangerous Ben Batho was finished at the far post by Adam Mills. Mills then had a header come off the bar while Adam Marriott put an overhead kick over the bar. Hitchin were struggling to create any clear cut chances and were pleased to reach the interval only one goal behind. Whatever was said at half time by the management team had the desired affect as Hitchin turned the game around and became the dominant team and went in search of the equaliser..

McGregor made an excellent save from Joe Henman before Wyatt Hill was booked for a crude challenge on Stitt. The resultant free kick from Ciaren Jones was easily saved. Cole Butler provided an enticing cross that nobody got on the end of. On 66 minutes Stitt shot just wide and then Luke Stokoe had a dangerous cross cleared for a corner. From this corner delivered by Callum Nicolson Blue Joy headed home a well deserved equaliser. It had been a good comeback from Hitchin and while Leiston created a couple of chances with Joy making one great block and Mills shooting wide Hitchin seemed to have done enough to earn a replay before disaster struck after 2 of the additional 4 minutes had been played. A corner was headed against his own bar by Jones and the rebound fell to Eddie Jackson who could not miss from almost on the line. It was a real kick in the teeth for Hitchin and it stunned the 618 strong crowd—you do not always get what you deserve.

Manager Michael jones accepted Leiston were the better team first half but was delighted with the response in the second half after a tactical tweak and he highlighted the effort and desire that was shown. He was gutted by the freak nature of the winner but felt there were plenty of positives to take from the game.

On Tuesday Hitchin have a difficult away game at high flying Bury before taking on Takeley in the FA Trophy on Saturday.