Hitchin Town 1-3 Leiston - report by Pipeman at Top Field

After the fighting draw at a somewhat challenging venue at Tamworth, Hitchin left their plight in the league for this cup tie.

As is often the case the two teams do meet very soon in the league. There was much to be proud of in that performance but, once again a goal was lacking. It was hoped that this would be remedied today.

Kyle Tearle's injury that was sustained at Tamworth was serious enough to prevent his starting today and I gather that he is wearing a protective boot. He is not the only player out through injury, is not uncommon at this stage of the season.

Leiston have achieved some good results so far and they came to Top Field with a degree of confidence, as and as it turned out they won comfortably with a workmanlike performance to ease into the next round of the competition.

By way of contrast, Hitchin did not replicate the true grit they showed at Tamworth – but at least they scored a goal and should have had two but for a penalty miss in stoppage time in the second half.

After the kick off, there were two early chances for the visitors, with Dylan Switters firing across the goal mouth and Adam Mills saw his effort go wide. A little later Jake Hutchins headed over the cross bar.

Hitchin's efforts to go forward revealed how lightweight they are in this department at times and predictable passes went astray. Leiston played with a degree of caution but often with a patient intricacy.

Their two tall players, Adam Bailey-Dennis and Siju Odelusi ensured that many aerial challenges went their way, and it was noted that the pace of Robert Eagle on the left was proving troublesome.

For fifteen minutes play was intricate but inconclusive, but Hitchin, in search of a goal to end a particular drought did not look like doing so, since their way forward was often stifled in midfield.

But on one occasion they managed to force a corner from Bailey-Dennis but Dasilva's lofted ball went straight to keeper Sam Donkin.

With an immediate response in counter attack Ben Hunter brought the ball forward and he provided the following chance when Mills had a shot on target held by Horlock.

A move originating from Moloney, assisted by Akubuine saw a cross to the waiting Luke Brown, but this was defended soundly.

Fully involved and with heartening enthusiasm was Stan Georgiou, playing in midfield and again impressing.

He originated a move with Dasilva and Akubuine that was partially defended and then allowed Luke Brown to set his sights with a firm shot, but it was straight at Donkin.

Five minutes after this the visitors took the lead and in text book fashion, and once more suggesting that some of the best goals are the simplest.

Joe Marsden held up until he could pick out the incoming Ben Hunter whose finish was clinical. Twenty-eight minutes had expired and the effect of this goal proved to be a disheartening one for Hitchin who have tended to match the play of their opponents but lack that little bit of creativity that reaps the reward of a goal.

Furthermore, Hitchin were not allowed to react with immediacy as there was an effort from Ollie Saunders that was high if not mighty. Luke Brown received a caution for a shirt-pulling, his ear to ear smile of innocence not fooling the referee, and the earnest Georgiou shot wide with a creditable effort.

The best effort from Hitchin came from Luke Brown who made the net ripple but from the wrong side.

A dangerous cross from Mills was defended by Webb, back from injury, and Hitchin were awarded a free-kick after Eagle was cautioned for an illegitimate challenge.

Akubuine was earnest in his endeavours to pump in the crosses and in this he was relatively successful but they were snuffed out either by a defender or the goal keeper.

As we approached the end of the half there was a fine shot from Mills, held by Horlock and Stead, evading his marker was able to get in an ineffective header.

At the interval I thought that the visitors were worth their lead, even if their style was more akin to prose than poetry. Hitchin had put in the effort but it lacked convincing execution. Stead had been denied space and aerially the hosts had posed no real threat.

I learned during the interval that the scorer of the only goals so far, Ben Hunter, that he is the grandson of former Ipswich Town player Alan Hunter. I expect it is widely known that former Ipswich and Arsenal player Brian Talbot played in the Generation Cup on Sunday at the age of 68.

In that FA Cup of 1871 Hitchin were eliminated by Crystal Palace who were strongly represented in Sunday's commemorative celebrations.

But on Saturday, it was the FA Trophy, and I overheard the 'generosity' of more than one supporter pass the opinion that Leiston could have this game as long as we take three points off them in the forthcoming league match.

Needless to say they will do their best not to be generous themselves. It does show, however that the poor league form weighs heavily upon us and in the next match, away at Biggleswade, they will be keen to avenge their elimination from the FA Cup in what remains as hitchin's best performance of the season so far.

So, with just the one goal so far in this game, there was always the chance and an early chance involving Stead and Luke Brown, saw Hunter concede the corner and Webb had a hooked shot that was fanciful but also well over the bar.

Stead powered away on a solo run, as if he had rung someone's doorbell, and was dispossessed with comparative ease. Jones was cautioned for a rash challenge and soon this little bit of Hitchin pressure was ended.

Eagle and Marsden constructed a promising move that was well defended and from a long Horlock free-kick Maloney shot just wide in what was Hitchin's best effort this half so far.

Odelusi latched onto a telling through ball but wasted the effort. Stead encroached into the Leiston penalty area but was crowded out and shortly after, Alex Brown was cautioned, meaning both Browns became booked. Leiston netted and did not protest over the offside decision. Luke Brown's flick at the near post was a cavalier touch but all too easy for Donkin.

Two minutes after Alex Brown was replaced by Malaki Black Brendan Ocran doubled the visitors' lead with another goal of classic simplicity after a cross from the left.

It mean they were now cruising and a Hitchin comeback looked increasingly unlikely. Steve Cawley, restricted to a cameo appearance as a stoppage time substitute at Tamworth came on and did get in a fine on target shot that needed a good save from Donkin at the expense of a corner.

Yet, at seventy-five minutes there was more than a glimmer of hope when Stead's fine pass enabled Ciaren Jones to reduce the arrears, and in imaginative mode we conjured an equaliser and a dramatic win in the penalty shootout. That would have been nice.

There was some earnest forward play from the hosts but after Akubuine's cross to Cawley, who failed to connect away scampered Leiston with substitute Finlay Barnes showing a good turn of speed, and it was his assistance that enabled Odelusi to restore the two goal lead after eighty-two minutes, from close range.

Stead's next effort was blocked and Barnes was at it again, enabling Ocran a decent shot. There was to be a late sting in the tail, as in stoppage time, Black was fouled and a penalty awarded to Hitchin, with the responsibility falling to Luke Brown, since his brother had been substituted. Brown blasted it but Donkin saved well, and that left a bare minute before the whistle announced Hitchin's disappointing departure from this competition.

They do not have to announce that they will be 'concentrating on the league' since this is a matter of urgency as survival at this level is of paramount importance.

It should have been two or three, and as such a fairer reflection of the overall difference between the teams… well, maybe. The major difference was the strength up front and better finishing.

Leiston came and did a job today, but we can but hope that Hitchin will improve sufficiently when the teams meet in the league after the Biggleswade fixture. We wish the Suffolk club all the very best in the next round off this competition.

HITCHIN TOWN

Charlie Horlock, Daniel Akubuine, Alex Brown, cautioned, (Malaki Black, 67), Lawrie Marsh, Dan Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, cautioned, goal,75 minutes, Matt Moloney, Stanley Georgiou, Sponsors' Hitchin Town man of the match, Callum stead, Luke Brown, cautioned, Rio Dasilva, (Stephen Cawley, 71).

Unused substitutes: Adam Mills, Harrison Podd and Seb Dunbar.

REFEREE: Mr Matthew Perry, assisted by Mr Mark Bright and Mr Gareth Viccars

ATTENDANCE: 278

REPORT BY PIPEMAN