Peterborough Sports 1-0 Hitchin Town. Report by Pipeman

Hitchin slipped to a third successive defeat and are still looking nervously at the league table and the relegation placings. The Canaries now occupy the third from bottom spot which is a 'theoretical' relegation and depends upon points per game. After the noble, even heroic effort against Banbury United two days ago, this performance was dour by comparison and a return to the less imaginative game plan.

When I received the team sheet I noticed that Josh Popoola and Johnny Allotey were to start and deservedly so, and Malaki Black was placed in a defensive/midfield position that is not his normal role. Quite simply the injuries at this late stage of the season has had a telling effect and it was conveyed to me in a stage whisper that the four named substitutes 'have only got one leg', meaning that they were carrying injuries.

This did not prevent a stoppage time entrance of skipper Dan Webb. This marked his 399th appearance and so the way is clear for him to reach four hundred on the last day of the season against Bromsgrove Rovers. I have been to Lincoln Road before but this visit made me feel that it was almost a different stadium since so much work has been completed, including a classy Board Room. The Turbines have had a turbocharged season and look to success in the play-offs in order to gain promotion to the Conference North.

We were given a splendid welcome with marvellous hospitality and friendliness and we agreed that apart from the result it had been a most enjoyable day in splendid weather. But honesty compels me to report that the game was not a classic by any means and the Hitchin young guns could not replicate that attacking verve that they produced against the Champions.

Peterborough, like Banbury, played with patience and care and after an hour they took the lead which apart from a few efforts from a desperate Hitchin at the end they defended comfortably. They were not entirely at full strength but wanted maximum points in order to ensure they faced their preferred opponents in the play-offs. Hitchin approached this game with some confidence, having held the Turbines at Top field in a thrilling game that finished 2-2 and we recall how Peterborough could have won it in stoppage time when the shot hit the post and they had to settle for a point.

The excitement today was somewhat delayed – that is if we discount Hitchin's immediate attack with Steve Cawley taking a tumble whilst attempting to connect with a tricky forward ball. No-one saw it as anything else but a stumble, but what a start that would have been had he been able to maximise the chance.

An early corner for the Turbines was beaten away and it was some time before we saw a meaningful assault on goal from either team. Hitchin looked to playing it long to lone striker Hutchinson, supported dutifully by Cawley.

There was a cross from Alex Brown, with Popoola trying to connect, but as in the last meeting those tall central defenders ran the show as far as that was concerned.

A cross from Sports took a deflection for a corner, taken by Warner-Eley, but it resulted in a free-kick for Hitchin. Hutchinson had a good first touch but impeded a player with his second, so a free-kick to Sports. Horlock had success in cutting out crosses even if he did fall dramatically to emphasise the achievement. As usual he took a knock or two and was relatively busy today.

But where were the shots on target….we were waiting patiently for someone to have a go. Even so, the lads in magenta were doing well, even though they lacked the experience of Gleeson, Webb and Jones. Kye Tearle conceded a Hitchin style 'trademark' free-kick, but Horlock held this. A flick on by Cawley for Hutchinson did not come off, and Coldicott-Stevens was, as usual in the thick of it in midfield, challenging for every ball.

I wanted to see some of that creativity of the Banbury game and if possible to see Johnny Allotey score just to see if he would do another double somersault, assuming he was not adjudged off-side.He was well involved but was not allowed even some of the freedom he seized against Banbury. JCS won a free-kick for the Canaries, and the attempt to play along the right flank was thwarted. Even so I was pleased to hear two Turbines' fans agree that Hitchin would stay up as they were contesting this game well and preventing the home team from deconstructing the Hitchin defence.

Hitchin had a corner, sent in by JCS, Hutchinson had a blocked shot, the attack continued with a cross from Hutchinson that was defended by Richard Jones. Possession was more or less equal but we still lacked the dramatic touch in this game. Dasilva shaped for a run on goal but outnumbered three to one, he unsurprisingly lost possession. Allotey was fouled for a free-kick on the right, taken by Alex Brown who had not judged the wind factor and thus the ball sailed merrily over the crossbar.

Mark Jones had a chance for the Turbines but he did not get the shot away cleanly, but it represented their best chance so far. A long throw from Sports saw JCS thwart Sembie-Ferris – and this brought another long throw bringing a blocked shot from Marsh-Brown, and Horlock was down to claim the ball. Warner-Ely tried a cross but had to be content with a throw-in – yes another long one that bobbled about the penalty area. Sports were encroaching, but the likes of Georgiou and Tearle were holding fast.

It was ten minutes to half-time and another corner came in from Warner-Ely and the header from Sembie-Ferris was held by Horlock. Matters were relieved with a couple of free-kicks. One of these for a challenge on JCS who looked more concerned that it had ruffled his hair-do. During the delay for a bit of treatment I wondered if JCS has a girlfriend called Alice Band.

Another free-kick, this time for sports gave Jarvis a chance that he could not take as well as he wished and we were close to the end of a goal-less first half. It arrived after no further action of significance and the Hitchin travelling support, high in numbers as always, were generally pleased. I suppose the psychological aspect was that a point here at Lincoln Road would be something of an achievement. Then, (here I go again), we conceded a free-kick right in stoppage time and we feared the worst. From my angle it looked as if it had found the net but the oohs replaced the intended cheers as it went wide.

In the Board Room during the interval there was a splendid repast of colourful cakes of the kind you sometimes see in television programmes where someone says that it was followed by 'lashings of ginger beer.' The friendly ladies who had prepared them all stood by benevolently as these sinful calorie laden treats were devoured by all and sundry. There were little egg sweets as a nod to this being Easter Monday. We hoped that Hitchin could hold out in the second half and it did begin to look unlikely as Sports began better and were now stroking the ball around with patient intent.

Hitchin fought in vain for periods of possession, and lofting the ball from defence was only a temporary respite. In every match a team under pressure gets a chance or two, a lucky break, or a move from an unforced error, but this was not the case as yet. A free-kick from sports was taken too quickly and came to nothing and I fully expected the taker to loft it into the penalty area. JCS in one clearance sent a forward ball for Hutchinson to run onto but Peter Crook stole the ball from him. I noticed that like many opposing keepers he had time for a bit of friendly banter with the Hitchin faithful who were suggesting what kind of errors he could make, should he feel charitable towards our cause. No chance. Cawley's flicks were suggestive but anticipated. Dasilva worked tirelessly and there was fine battling from Popoola. Bazely, under pressure conceded a corner, which Crook had to palm away but the follow up was defended. Dasilva's first touch was just too heavy to get in a second touch where he could shape for a shot.

We were approaching the hour mark. The Turbines made a substitution and on came Jordan Macleod who was to distinguish himself by scoring the only goal of the game following a corner. It was a well-taken goal and celebrated with some relief by home players who were a good deal more relaxed afterwards. The onus was on Hitchin but chances were few. The hosts stroked the ball around confidently and Hilliard replaced Jarvis.

Hitchin faced the onerous task of trying to break down a superbly organised defence but could not make significant inroads until the final few minutes. Already away fans were checking other games on their phones and the news in that area was at least positive. But it was not enough to rely on that, and we needed to see a proper assault on goal. Cawley tried to lob Crook but the home keeper being about seven feet tall in his socks that attempt was unlikely to be successful.

Hutchinson laboured with good intent, eyeing a possible error where he could break free, but it did not happen. Where was the purple patch for those in magenta? Well, it did come but not until the closing minutes where our script was for Dan Webb, a late substitute to get his head on a searching free-kick and the net to bulge obligingly. It might have happened, and we all remember Webb snatching the equaliser at Rushall. Not today, though.

Warner-Ely put a free-kick over the bar and time was ticking to Hitchin's disadvantage. Jones was winning the ball in the air rather routinely, and Dasilva on a run found himself pursued by three defenders who saw off the danger. Mind you, the Turbines were taking their time with throw-ins and goal-kicks which suggested that they were just a little insecure about maximum points, but Hitchin just did not do enough. If only the execution had matched the effort.

Horlock held a header from Sembie-Ferris and his clearance was headed back to him, more or less, by Richard Jones. If we had scored I think I might have had a go at the double somersault, well in my mind at least.

So – to the late flurry of good intent. A couple of promising free-kicks, Jones got his head in the way, the unsporting bounder, and a Hitchin shot cleared the bar almost apologetically. Hutchinson had a half chance but could not get the control he wanted. We were in stoppage time and the equaliser painfully elusive. Webb and Green had come on as substitutes for the final throw of the dice. But it was no dice and the game ended disappointingly for Hitchin.

So, we go to the last game of the season hoping that a win against the improved Bromsgrove who won the corresponding fixture 1-0 in September.

It would be most heartening if we could end the season on a high note and three invaluable points, and survival.

We wish Peterborough Sports good fortune in the play-offs and should they progress they will no doubt meet those challenges head on.

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS

Peter Crook, Isiah Bazely, Luke Warner-Ely, Ryan Fryatt, Richard Jones, Lamine Kaba-Sherif, (Daniel Lawlor), Dion Sembie-Ferris, cautioned, Dan Jarvis, (Lewis Hilliard), Mark Jones, Joshua McCammon, Kyjuon Marsh-Brown, (Jordan McLeod, GOAL, 61 MINUTES, cautioned,) Unused substitutes- Brad McGowan and Jordan Nicholson.

HITCHIN TOWN

Charlie Horlock, Kye Tearle, Alex Brown, Joshua Coldicott-Stevens, this reporter's man of the match, Stan Georgiou, Malaki Black, Joshua Popoola, Rio Dasilva, (Dan Webb), Jacob Hutchinson, Stephen Cawley, Johnny Allotey, (Jack Green). Unused substitutes- Stephen Gleeson and Ciaren Jones.

Referee- Mr Thomas Hancock, assisted by Ms Aimee Keir and Mr Oliver Hollyoak.

Attendance 306

REPORT BY PIPEMAN