The turning point of this game came after 49 minutes. Hitchin had scored just 2 minutes earlier to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and Owen Brooks was through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat. But a heavy final touch meant Jake Weaver made a save and Stratford went down the other end and Dan Lafferty scored from an Adam Jasper cross. So what could have been a 2-2 scoreline became 3-1 and this made Hitchin's comeback chances remote.

Hitchin did not reach the same heights as for the Bury game but did not play badly against a team who stretched their unbeaten run to 7 games. There was not quite the same intensity in their play and in the first half did not create enough chances. Stratford also scored their goals at opportune moments with the first 2 goals at the beginning and end of the first half.

Team news was that Tyler McGregor returned in goal after injury while Diogo Freitas-Gouveia was unavailable and replaced by Charlie Briggs. New signing Finley Wilkinson was on the bench. On a glorious sunny afternoon Lafferty opened the scoring after 7 minutes after being set up by Paul McCone. His shot took a deflection to wrong foot McGregor. Dan Stokoe put in a cross that Weaver flapped at and then Toby Syme's cross was met by a shot from Jack Snelus that lacked power.

Jasper shot over the bar before Stratford added their second goal in the fourth additional minute which in itself was frustrating as only 2 additional minutes had been announced. The goal came from a corner that McGregor did not hold and Kobe Hall finished from close range. Dan Stokoe did not come out for the second half due to injury and Wilkinson came on. He won a corner after 47 minutes and Hitchin won a penalty after a foul was committed from the delivery. Snelus made no mistake from the spot.

Then came that crucial momentum switch on 49 minutes as Hitchin fell 2 goals behind. It was frustrating as Hitchin made a fast start to the second half. Snelus shot over the bar and Luke Stokoe shot just wide but Stratford defended well. George Morrall had a shot saved in injury time but Hitchin could not get back in the game despite attacking substitutions.

Hitchin do need to improve their away form as they have not yet tasted success on their travels and their next game is at Leighton Town who are below Hitchin in the table. Manager Michael Jones was disappointed with how the game played out but did not feel the performance was that bad and again small margins proved decisive.