Ryman League - Hitchin Town 0 Hornchurch 2

[Urchins]

It's all very well having games in hand but you still need to win them. We won this one comfortably and with both goals coming in an excellent first half.

 

We thought we had taken the lead after 4 minutes when Jamie Southon prodded the ball home after home keeper Richard Wilmot failed to hold an Andy Douglas long range effort but the referee's assistant had already flagged for offside. Wilmot saved well from a Gavin McGowan shot 3 minutes later but could do nothing to prevent Vinnie John from slotting home in the 20th minute after a Keith Rowlands 18 yard shot came back off the crossbar. Hitchin were angry that there was no offside flag against John, but the assistant would not save them this time. 15 minutes later we were 2-0 up and it was through an excellent stooping header from Jamie Southon from 10 yards from a Scott Gooding free kick. We ended the half with a couple of near misses, a Gavin McGowan header coming back off the bar and a Jamie Southon header being cleared off the line.

 

Hitchin rarely threatened and perhaps we took our foot off the gas a little but the home side were much tighter in defence in the second half. A scare came in the 56th minute when we failed to effectively clear the ball in the area and a goalmouth scramble ensued with several blocks from lunging defenders, finishing with a good save from Danny Gay under the bar. We put the Hitchin defence under some pressure throughout the half but they did well to keep the half goalless.

 

Line-up:- Gay, Gooding, Kerrigan, Adedeji, Southon, Locke (Williams 70), McGowan, J Martin, John, Douglas (Abbott 70), Rowland. Subs not used:- Graham, Cowley, McCartney (GK)

[maxinio]

I agree, good performance a nd a gritty one, special mention for Jamie, come back after injury and slots into whatever role is required.

Also to the fans, well done on another cold night.

And a thanks to Helen and Anna in the tea bar for warming me up !!