Hitchin made their long awaited return to the premier division of the Southern League with a visit to Rushall Olympic but there was no happy outcome as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat. It really was a game of two halves. In the first half Hitchin were poor as they resembled rabbits caught in the headlights. They were off the pace and overrun in midfield and as manager Michael Jones admitted afterwards could easily have been more than two goals down at half-time. However the second half saw a hugely improved performance and Rushall were hanging on at the end as Hitchin came close to snatching a draw.

The team news was that Tyler McGregor was still unfit so Jack Mason came in for his debut and he had a solid game in goal. Charlie Briggs and Sean Duodu also missed out through injury while Diogo Freitas-Gouveia was unavailable. Hitchin made the worst possible start when after Mason made a third minute save Rushall went ahead after four minutes. A good cross from Carter Lycett found Luke Yates who headed past Mason. Hitchin were lethargic while Rushall played at a high intensity and were giving us no time on the ball. It led to Hitchin making a number of long passes that were easily intercepted.

Kye Tearle tried a speculative shot from 30 yards that just went wide and had another shot blocked after a Rio Deall cross but it was Rushall who looked far more likely to score. Liam McAlinden shot just wide before hitting the post after a neat piece of skill. Jamie Willets also hit the post before a Callum Nicolson corner went right across the goalmouth with nobody getting a touch. Hitchin wanted to reach half-time with just a one goal deficit and reset for the second half but in the 44^th minute Yates scored his second goal when Hitchin failed to clear the ball in a goalmouth scramble.

So it was always going to be an uphill struggle in the second half but Hitchin were transformed from the first half display. Teme Akinbusoye replaced the injured Nicolson and offered a more physical threat. Indeed he was brought down by Roddy McGlinchey after 53 minutes for a certain penalty. Tearle provided a really confident penalty to half the difference. Suddenly Hitchin were on the front foot and Rushall lost that intensity of the first half. Blue Joy did make a great block but it was Hitchin now on top. George Morrall replaced Dan Stokoe and shot wide after 76 minutes. Then Tearle made an enterprising run that was met by Deall but went just wide. Tearle had another shot saved but Hitchin could not get the equaliser the second half performance merited. Joy made another excellent tackle after 92 minutes but this was an isolated moment of Rushall pressure.

So Michael Jones while frustrated at the first 45 minutes was impressed with the character shown to mount the fightback and knows a quicker start to games is essential. The premier division will be tough and the quality and physicality will be a different level to last season and Jones feels we will adapt as the season goes on. At least there will be positive momentum to take in to Tuesday's game at home to Needham Market from the second half display.