Hitchin Town lost 1-0 to Stratford Town on Saturday at Top Field.

Read on for Pipeman's in-depth report

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It was All Souls' Day at Top Field a specially chosen day of remembrance by the club to honour the memory of past players, officials and supporters who had died recently, with many commemorated in the match day programme.

Stratford showed their support by supplying names of those they wished to be remembered.

The kick-off was preceded with a short address from the club chaplain. It was an excellent idea, greeted with respect and the minute's applause was carried out with enthusiasm.

The hosts, with a few changes from the midweek defeat at St Ives, were in a determined mood, since they knew they had played well enough to earn at least a point in Huntingdonshire but as on that night, they lost by a single goal.

It was just as frustrating since the Canaries played solid and direct football and again had no reward for their efforts.

Bare statistics are one thing but I am pleased to report that there is a determination in the team to halt this losing run and the match was as tight as the score suggests.

Not so pleasing to report is that once again the goal conceded came from a free-kick, and the marking was found wanting.

Much has been made of the return to Top field of Callum Stead, and with good reason, but he, even with his superior pace and poaching instincts could not overcome a square-jawed defence that yielded very little, even when they were under siege in the second half, having had a player dismissed with a straight red card.

It is said that when you are the basement club, little goes your way in terms of luck. The toast fell butter side down, with a goal disallowed for off-side, and various passes being just on the heavy side for meaningful connection.

Stratford, very sensibly approached this one with caution and immediately reorganised after the dismissal of Joseph Magonda, which some saw as no more than a yellow card offence, but the referee was adamant that it was dangerous play and Charlie Horlock could well have been injured more seriously. More of that later.

The happy reunion of Luke Brown with Callum Stead saw an early move involving these two and Stead was on target, but Liam O'Brien saved routinely.

The Warwickshire club are still in the FA Cup (and their clash with Shrewsbury is to be televised live on ITV4) and have a good physical presence.

One move involving Lewis Wilson and Owen James brought a corner which Horlock stretched at to palm away. Loan player, Matthew Moloney (I nearly typed Moloany), made a start and impressed enough to become the Sponsors' Man of the Match.

He combined with the reliable Akubuine whose intended cross was effectively blocked, and in another forward move Stead was caught off side.

Play was good, but tight, with Hitchin matching their opponents well and home hopes were briefly raised even though many saw the off-side flag raised when, following a corner, and Webb's deft header, Luke Brown netted.

There was a hopeful cheer but the goal was disallowed. Even so, it showed pugnacity and we cannot fault the Hitchin team for effort as they search for an elusive goal that would make a lot of difference.

Some suggested that it was relatively easy to have plenty of play against a relatively poor St Ives, but against a stronger Stratford Town they went forward with enthusiasm and a degree of creativity.

Ashely Sammons was next with a fair shot on target and a chance for Wilson was neatly thwarted by Dan Webb. Daniel Lafferty was one of the Bards who looked lively, being fully involved with moves on the left.

On this flank was another promising move involving Sammons and Gordon, which was defended, giving the opportunity for a counter attack, a good move involving Stead, Luke Brown and Dasilva, with Tearle finishing the move by firing over the cross bar.

Malony and Stead strutted their stuff on the right and Luke Brown's blocked shot brought a corner. This was positive and promising play.

Dasilva's shot brought another corner that was defended, as was the next shot from Dasilva, following an imperious piece of play from Ciaren Jones. We had the view that there was maybe a goal in the offing. We were right, but it was not for Hitchin, alas.

A free kick was awarded to Stratford. Here I may quote a little Shakespeare ('natch), 'On fortune's cap, we are not the very button,' (Hamlet).

Stratford players reacted unconsciously to another quotation from the same play' 'Come, give us a taste of your quality'. And they did, the Bards.

The cross sailed in and Jaanal Gordon headed it into the net. It was almost ten minutes to half-time, so too soon to employ another quotation that all was to be 'made of sighs and tears,' better to 'be made of faith and service'. I'm on a roll here, but bear with me.

There was yet time, and again it gave the Canaries a difficult challenge and I do believe that they rose to the occasion. It is a pity they did not rise as effectively as Gordon, whose header separated the two teams.

I will say that when that goal went in the comments I heard from some home supporters suited Chaucer rather than Shakespeare.

Stead, for it was he, tried again, with a shot that O'Brien held and at the other end Wilson's effort was blocked.

At the interval I thought that the hosts had played well, yet still lacked that needful finishing touch, or just a rub of the green.

Realistically I knew it would be a hard task against such a Berlin Wall of a defence and wanted to keep my optimism, and here is another quotation (As You Like It), 'I had rather have a fool to make me merry than experience to make me sad'.

That is all very well, but the experience of the second half held hope and finally despondency as, even against ten men we laboured to penetrate.

We began all right, with a shot from Alex Brown that brought a corner, Tearle followed up enthusiastically but without accuracy. Marsh sliced another one and we wish he had not, and then his intended cross was blocked. A free-kick from Tearle saw Webb try a header, but O'Brien easily anticipated this.

Ten minutes into the half there was a cross for Magunda, who, of course had every right to go for the ball, but in the challenge, Horlock was felled and the referee deemed that it was a challenge that seriously endangered play and a bemused Magunda endured the Walk of Shame and Stratford players fumed at the decision.

Stratford reorganised immediately with a substitution, Turner for James. There was a delay in play whilst Horlock had his brow mopped.

Was this to be one of those occasions when the team reduced to ten men played out of their skins and secured a handsome victory? Well, not really, but they played an admirable rearguard action in protecting the lead and thus the points.

Hitchin seized every chance of going forward, sometimes frantically, which had an effect on accuracy, but they sure as hell meant business. Alex Brown shot wide.

A fine forward ball for Stead saw him break clear but his first touch was too heavy. Crosses from Akubuine, Jones and Tearle were robustly defended and from a corner Tearle popped one in and that too was saved. Luke Brown headed one over and a breakaway attack from Stratford (these were sporadic) saw substitute Wakefield secure an unsuccessful shot.

There was variety, with Tearle trying one, optimistically from range and for the Bards a shot from Gordon was saved by Horlock. Tearle and Marsh combined but the latter's shot was blocked and then the Brown brothers combined with Luke shooting again wide of the target.

Another searching cross from Akubuine was well defended and another cross gave another chance but again the intervention was emphatic. Dasilva, from a free-kick assisted Moloney whose shot was saved. Credit goes to Stratford for holding off these moves.

We saw quite a bit of action within the visitors' penalty but errors were avoided and defensive play was composed. There was one bit of action late in the game where a Stratford defender cleared off the line and all Hitchin got from the follow-up was a corner.

Still we hoped that we would sneak one in stoppage time, feeling we deserved it, but alas no. Hitchin had played well but without reward. Stratford may well have had one eye on the big FA Cup game at home, but they will be quite relieved and pleased to have won this, especially with ten men.

Hitchin players sat forlorn on the pitch after the whistle, 'so shaken as we are, so wan with care' (Henry IV, 1).

But I say again they had played well, and it is clear that they care and I believe that there will be some reward soon. And here I may end with an apt quotation from that same play, with reference to future matches:

'Out of this nettle danger, we pluck this flower safety,' Let us hope so.

We wish Stratford Town every good fortune against Shrewsbury in their FA Cup match and I am sure they will show the Southern League in a good light, and we also thank them for their part in today's short ceremony of remembrance before the kick-off.

It is Leiston next, in the FA Trophy and then in a League fixture – but before that we have the small matter of a League encounter away at Tamworth on Tuesday evening, which is a stern task, but we entertain some degree of confidence since the last two performances have been promising, and all we are saying, is give us a goal – or two.

HITCHIN TOWN

Charlie Horlock, Dan Akubuine, Alex Brown, Lawrie Marsh, Dan Webb, captain, Ciaren Jones, Matthew Moloney, Sponsors' Man of the Match, Kye Tearle, Callum Stead, Luke Brown, (Stanley Georgiou), Rio Dasilva.

Unused substitutes: Ryan Smith, Malaki Black, Elliot Kettle and Stephen Cawley.

STRATFORD TOWN

Liam O'Brien, Daniel Vann, James Fry, captain, Joseph Magunda, dismissed, straight red card, 55. Jordan Williams, Daniel Lafferty, (Harry Wakefield), Jaanal Gordon, GOAL, 38 MINUTES, Ashley Sammons, Owen James, (Jack Turner), Lewis Wilson, William Dawes, (Enoch Andoh).

Unused substitutes: Callum Westwood and Amer Awadh.

REFEREE: Mr C Martland, assisted by Mr A Anastasiou and Mr L Hantera.

ATTENDANCE: 363

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