Long Eaton United 1-2 Hitchin Town: Report by Pipeman. Photographs by Peter Else

It is always intriguing when the scheduled match is against a team we have never met before and about whom we know very little. Long Eaton United is a relatively new club, formed in 1956 and an interesting piece of trivia is that an alumnus of considerable achievement was one Gary Birtles who was signed by Nottingham Forest and went on to win two European Cups.

Long Eaton won promotion from the Northern Premier and are based in Derbyshire. For me it was a new ground to visit and that is always full of interest. Whilst Hitchin had a slightly fortuitous home win over Alvechurch in their first game, Long Eaton lost 2-1 to Leamington, succumbing to a late goal, so they would want to get off the mark in their debut home fixture at Grange Park.

Hitchin team news was encouraging with full availability. We were able to see, beforehand, the closing stages of the England women's World Cup game against Columbia, and were delighted to see the team reach the semi-finals.

The game was preceded by both sunshine and showers and Hitchin supporters were looking forward to this first ever meeting. The hosts were in blue and black stripes and Hitchin were in all purple.

After the start a long throw from Long Eaton needed Horlock to punch clear and it was a very positive start from the Derbyshire club. but in one carefully constructed move Gouveia had a shot blocked. Long Eaton had a free kick when Campbell was fouled and Bradley Bell cleared up nicely.

There was a lack of precision in Hitchin's play as they tried to settle to their rhythm, but harried by the hosts. They won their first corner after thirteen minutes and Idiakhoa soon won another. This brought a third and this bit of pressure was soon relieved as the hosts had a free kick for infringements in the area.

A Hitchin free kick from the right proved to be of negligible worth but the ball was spending more time in the opposition half. Bell's cross to Eadie was just too strong, and Snelus was beginning to see more of the ball. There was a chance for King but his effort was adequately defended.

Bell's neat cross for Gouveia was cut out by Ross Durrant, and as a side note I noticed that both keepers were captains today. But, we had got to twenty-seven minutes and we were yet to see a realistic goal effort with Snelus trying a shot and it being deflected for a corner as close as we had got so far. Even that was changed to a goal kick. The Long Eaton tactic of the long throw was once more essayed but without success.

Some elaborate play from Hitchin was suggestive of a penetrative attack but again imprecise passing put paid to that but at least they were gaining more possession. A well-constructed Canaries attack saw Gouveia take a knock but Hitchin were looking stronger and another corner came after forty minutes. This somewhat tepid game needed a goal to enliven the proceedings and Wilkinson had a fine shot on target, as if in unspoken acknowledgement.

Long Eaton United 1-2 Hitchin Town as Mark Burke's Canaries win away from home: Report by Pipeman with photographs by Peter Else

As we headed for the interval it was Hitchin who were pushing and they had a free. Kick wide on the left. Eadie's cross was tantalising but not as effective as he had hoped. A combination between Snelus and Wilkinson was foiled and a Gouveia shot was only just over the bar. Then Eadie won a late corner in stoppage time, where home intervention was adequate.

After the whistle had gone for the break, I quietly agreed with the comment that it had not been a classic so far. Fresh in the memory was the fine passing game played by Alvechurch at Top Field last week. Hitchin needed to be more penetrative and exploit the small advantages they had gained.

Idiakhoa, instead of chancing his shot fell over in an unconvincing attempt to win a penalty. Much better was Layne Eadie's excellent finish after just over a minute and so Hitchin were ahead. This fine strike helped enliven proceedings and also served to underline the visitors' superiority.

Gouveia's cunning free kick won a corner, which although defended, did not relieve the Hitchin pressure. Long Eaton made two substitutes, with King and Hardwick being replaced by Jebbison and Clark. Then the long throw tactic caused mayhem and the hosts snatched an equaliser. We had played about fifty-seven minutes and the scorer in the scramble was Clark.

Hitchin needed to respond ungently to this and a Wilkinson run won a corner which brought a Syme lob and an easy catch for Durrant, who the made two outstanding saves, the second conceding a corner. This was good from hitchin and Wilkinson, delaying slightly, shot wide.

Long Eaton, in a rare forward move this half, won a corner and Hitchin were ripe for a substitution. From the corner Walker's glancing header was decent but looked better than it was. But it sent out a warning. Another Hitchin effort was way too high. And the next attack ended in an opposition free kick.

We were expecting Galliford as a substitute, but it was Tearle warming up, just as home sub Clark had a weak shot direct at Horlock. Then Hitchin regained the lead with Wilkinson providing the fine finish with a low shot after about an hour, Tearle then replaced the industrious and creative Bell.

The home long throw was again in evidence with Walker keen to find the optimum spot. This one was defended however.Gouveia again won possession in the box and seemed to lose it jut as quickly, as we urged him to have a shot.,

Wilkinson showed no hesitation and his shot was deflected and two successive corners followed for Hitchin, with Durrant again making two masterful saves. But for him, the score might have been more emphatic for the visitors, who were pushing a still to increase their lead. Another Hitchin corner was beaten away and five minutes of normal time remained and Loire knows how much 'abnormal' time.

The sensible referee chose only a word of reprimand to Idiakhoa for making his shot just after the whistle had gone. It was this official's first Southern League game and he impressed with common sense and a firm control over the game, which was free of malice. Six minutes of added time were signalled.

The pace seemed to increase for this and we hoped that Hitchin could keep possession and avoid one of those long throws. There was a home free kick on the left that was wasted but the hosts found it hard to grasp any further chances as Hitchin gained territory, nosing forward and looking for a last chance.

This was not needed as the whistle went and Hitchin were pleased to make it two wins in both their games, but they really ought to have won by a higher margin. Full marks to Long Eaton keeper for an outstanding performance.

Long Eaton have lost both their opening games by a 2-1 margin and will look to settle as soon as they can into their new division, which may prove just a little difficult. And talking of difficulty, Hitchin travel on Tuesday to Bloomfields to take on a team that just will not permit us to excel at their ground. A league win at Needham Market is somewhat overdue but of course that will take hard work to achieve. It was the first time Hitchin have begun a season with two straight wins since 2013/14.

But, it was a successful first visit to Long Eaton and the only complaint is that the team did not impose itself with greater authority, once they had become comfortable and quietly in control.

LONG EATON UNITED

James Durrant Captain,, opposition star man, Larell King, (Micah Jebbison), Samuel Parker, Reece Bertram, Kieran Walker, Edward Cock, Callum Minkley, Marley Fearon, (Curtis Davies), Alex Hardwick, (Adam Clark, GOAL, 57 minutes), Kameron Campbell, Ciaren Keane. Substitutes not used – Callum Cooks and Ben Bowers.

HITCHIN TOWN

Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, (Kye Tearle), Layne Eadie, GOAL, 45 + 1, Toby Syme, Ciaren Jones, Lewis Barker, Diogo Freitas Gouveia, Kavan Cotter, Jack Snelus, Dan Idiakhoa, Finley Wilkinson, GOAL, 75 minutes. Substitutes not used- Stephen Gleeson, Isaac Galliford, Stanley Georgiou, Malaki Black.

Referee – Mr Mark Reeves assisted by. Mr Bradley Tonks and Mr Jordan Tindall.

Attendance 263

REPORT BY PIPEMAN