Hitchin Town 3-0 Nuneaton Borough: Report by Pipeman, photographs by Peter Else

Canaries soar to fifth spot after emphatic Top Field victory

After the real disappointment of being held to a draw on Saturday, the feeling of frustration compounded by the video evidence concerning that rogue penalty, and once more we hoped for our first win since mid-August. This was not only achieved but it was in real style, with the team performing at an optimum level and deserves praise for the unrelenting effort, even when comfortably in control. For me it was easily the best performance of the season as well as being the best margin of victory so far.

Nuneaton made a tentative start to the season but have begun to show the form expected from them. They came to Top Field following an impressive 4-1 win over Coalville Town and our manager's notes in the Bulletin clearly stated that the Warwickshire club were a lot better than early results suggested.

Hitchin Town 3-0 Nuneaton Borough: Report by Pipeman, photographs by Peter Else

Monday's Hitchin team had some apparently necessary changes owing to injuries and thus new signing Dan Emovon made a start as well as Stan Georgiou and Lewis Barker.

The first bit of action saw Finley Wilkinson balloon one over the bar. Dan Idiakhoa had a super chance but was unable to get the little bit of control to finish. A dangerous Nuneaton corner caused mayhem as did a follow up attack that saw Horlock display part of his repertoire with a vital save.

End to end stuff was a pleasing feature with the visitors having a bit of an early edge. An example was Stenson's lob that should have brought the first goal.It cleared the bar, but was a clear warning. Georgiou hit one that had the venom but it lacked the required accuracy. Idiakhoa was showing real pace and his incursion won a corner which only resulted in a free kick for Borough.

Good stuff from Hitchin was spoilt by subtle defending, but it was really positive. Optimistic rather than positive was a failed penalty shout for the visitors, with more than one mentioning that Saturday's referee would have proverbially had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, not that I have residual bitterness. A smart move from Emovon saw Cotter fire one in but it was wide.

Both teams really went at it and towards the end of the half there were distinct possibilities but moves were closely monitored by alert defences. The first half finished goal-less, which was my miserable prediction for the final score in our prediction league and my inaccuracy so far has been somewhat consistent. But it had been a well-contested half with equal chances, and the pace was conducive to excitement at the quality of the football being served up.

Initial moves in the second half saw promising strategy from Hitchin, and from range there was a peach of an opening goal from gentleman Stan Georgiou and it came after forty- eight minutes. It was what the game needed and the quality of the strike was notable. Then the Borough had a free kick in a good position with Stenson's effort striking the defensive wall. Stenson was there again, forcing a corner as Borough went forward with a will. They were creative in play against determined resistance from Hitchin.

Then Wilkinson, on a determined run, was brought down for an entirely legitimate penalty, and It was the same player indeed who converted to give Hitchin a two goal lead after fifty-eight minutes.Thus Hitchin led by such a margin for the first time since the St Ives game, but this time they did not concede soon after. The energetic Idiakhoa tried one from range after some tricky play – it was wide but worth a go.

Hitchin's defending from corners was showing a marked improvement and often resulted in a promising forward move. A cross from Bell hit the side netting, and Tearle's low cross caught everyone by surprise with no-one being able to connect. But it was exciting stuff from the hosts, contesting every fifty-fifty with a consistent urgency, and often turning defence into meaningful attack.

Hitchin Town 3-0 Nuneaton Borough: Report by Pipeman, photographs by Peter Else

Wilkinson's next shot was saved and his following move deflected to safety. A second optimistic penalty shout for Borough was loftily dismissed. A further Hitchin attack saw a free kick wide on the left with Bradley Bell's low shot held by Castle. Lafleur's intended cross was deflected for a corner which was painfully over hit. But there was good play from Borough, yet met with pleasing resistance. This was a harmonious team performance that was much appreciated by a decent attendance for an evening game.

Emovon was impressive as was the gritty play from Lewis Barker. Then Idiakhoa scored a real beauty on the run with almost ten minutes of normal time to go. His inspired work deserved such a reward, contributing much to the emphatic win we have waited for. Credit goes to the travelling support who made lots of noise but their chants were tinged with a degree of irony. The impressive strike from Idiakhoa contributed much to his selection from the sponsors as Man of the Match, but one must mention Georgiou in despatches, and prise goes to Emovon for a splendid debut as a Hitchin player.

Right at the end Wilkinson came close to adding a fourth but the team had to settle for just the three, but there were five additional minutes. This encouraged away fans to declare that their team would edge it 4-3, tongues firmly in cheek – and we have all been there.

Tonight's result was the best ever win over the Warwickshire side, with both fixtures last season finishing with a 1-1 draw. It should serve as a healthy tonic for the forthcoming FA Cup encounter with AFC Sudbury, who are something of an unknown quantity, since they are new to our division. As it often happens they return soon after in a league game.

It is very pleasing to report that no player from either team was cautioned, the only yellow card issued was to the Nuneaton manager, presumably for dissent.

Hitchin move to fifth in the table but they have, of course, played one more game than everyone but our opponents tonight.

HITCHIN TOWN

Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, Daniel Emovon, (Layne Eadie), Toby Syme, Ciaren Jones, Lewis Barker, Kye Tearle, Stanley Georgiou, GOAL, 48 MINUTES, 1-0, Daniel Idiakhoa, GOAL, 83 MINUTES, Sponsors' Man of the Match, Kazan Cotter, (Stephen Gleeson), Finley Wilkinson, PENALTY GOAL, 53 MINUTES, (George Devine). Substitutes not used- Isaac Galliford and Josh Mollison, GK.

NUNEATON BOROUGH

Liam Castle, Alexander Lafleur, Kyle Storer, (Callum Chettle), Victor Nirennold, Scott McManus, Connor Furlong, (Daniel Edmonds), Prince Mancinelli, Matthew Stenson, (Connor Tomlinson), Leroy Bohari Lita, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Isaiah Osbourne. Substitutes not used- Dan Jezeph, GK, Elwalid Elhaghany.

Referee Mr S Kyle assisted by Mr E Unuafe and Mr T Cartwright.

Attendance 435

REPORT BY PIPEMAN