Hitchin Town 0-0 Stourbridge: Attendance 1,141

It was do or die for Hitchin Town on Saturday afternoon at grand old Top Field, as Brett Donnelly's team attempted to avoid the relegation trapdoor.

Quite simply Hitchin required a victory over visitors Stourbridge, while praying for fourth place Leamington to beat AFC Sudbury in order for the Canaries to remain in the Southern League Premier Central Division for a 14th successive season.

Alas, Donnelly's side were reduced to nine men before the end of this crucial match, thereby curtailing Hitchin's chances of breaking the deadlock, as the Canaries were ultimately relegated on a sad afternoon for loyal fans.

A sign of the importance of this clash was the fact they were queuing outside the Fishponds Road turnstiles a full ten minutes after kick-off, with the impressive attendance later announced as a season's best, 1,141.

In a tense opening, Canaries No9 Shane Bush was forced from the field of play after only nine minutes, after suffering an injury, to be substituted by Joel Anker.

Ten minutes later, replacement Anker was himself taken off after sustaining a blow, to be replaced by No16 Issac Galliford.

As if to underline the pressure, referee - listed as 'C.Poole' - decided, in his wisdom, to hand the redoubtable Lewis Barker a second yellow, and send off Hitchin's influential No4 before half and hour had elapsed.

Thereby making Hitchin dreams even further unlikely as the teams headed into the interval goalless.

In a game of few chances, Hitchin No16 Galliford nearly sent Top Field into raptures but his shot five minutes after the break hit the side netting at the Glassboys' keeper's Charles Price's near post.

With 25 minutes remaining Ethan Freemantle was denied by a smart block by Canaries keeper Charlie Horlock in his 273rd - and final appearance - in Hitchin colours.

As the clock ticked down No17 Torin Ntege drilled a low shot wide of Price's far post as Donnelly's side desperately hunted a goal that would change their entire season.

There was still time for Canaries keeper Horlock to force an effort that was cleared off the line - with the headlines about to be written for a very different finish.

In a hectic finish Glassboys' left-back Harvey Portman clipped the woodwork with 10 minutes remaining before the referee opted to send off Stephen Gleeson following a melee in which the Canaries No8 appeared to kick-out, finally taking Hitchin's hopes with him.

Speaking to Nub News straight after the game, disappointed Canaries boss Donnelly said: "I'm gutted - but today wasn't the reason we were relegated,' pointing to poor form across the season. 'We'll be back. This is a good club."

See Hitchin Nub News soon for more from our must-read post-match interview with the passionate Brett Donnelly