Hitchin Town 1 Barnet 3

Report

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Barnet play and I always remember some pretty heated games when they played former rivals Enfield, notably a 6-3 win against the E’s at Southbury Road. I visited the Underhill but not the Hive I believe. it’s in Harrow. Barnet, the town is now back in Middlesex, having once been in Hertfordshire.

It was of great interest to Hitchin supporters that our former players Callum Stead and Finley Wilkinson were included in the Barnet squad. Interesting for me was that Barnet manager Dean Brennan was once a player at my former club Dunstable Town. Another former Dunstable man in attendance was Dean Hutchins, now in the middle of the Barnet management team, and I spoke to him shortly after the game.

It was a little annoying that the numbers on Barnet’s shirts didn’t match those on the team sheet, but this is not an isolated incident. Our VP gave me the correct setup midway through the second half, which helped.

The players entered the playing arena before the usual handshakes. Patches of rain were falling and away we went, facing a team operating two divisions above and indeed we were a Football League side for a considerable time.

The Bees started by dominating possession but the first cross, from the left, was over hit. Another chance came with a free kick, also from the left. This went for a corner, which was harmlessly headed over the crossbar.

There was some good stuff again from George Morrall, whose ability belies his small frame. Hitchin began to receive more of the ball without breaking through and then, after a quarter of an hour, Barnet should have taken the lead, but Hitchin fired wide.
By now there was concerted pressure on the Canaries and James Callan did well to clear a deflected shot that looked headed for the top corner.

Hitchin’s B triallist was replaced by Stephen Gleeson after twenty one minutes. For all their possession, Barnet have yet to break through or even have a shot on target. Callan’s long goal kicks presented Hitchin with forward play opportunities which were rigorously denied with an almost indignant regaining of possession.

A good strike saw Callan make another outstanding save and Barnet were further denied from the near post corner. The half hour saw Hitchin try to string together passes for an attack but was neatly thwarted. Half a dozen or more Barnet substitutes came out to the perimeter of the pitch to warm up, presumably for the second half. Callum Stead was among their number.

Then there was an almost comical moment when Callan looked to hold on to an Anthony Hartigan free-kick but then spilled the ball into his own net. So a soft goal for the Bees after thirty five minutes. The announcer was sad that he was number six, but Barnet shirts ranged from thirteen to forty-seven.

Then, almost inevitably, Finley Wilkinson scored number two after thirty-eight minutes. We were delighted that Finley has been taken up at a club that plays at senior level and we wish him well.
A screaming free kick from one of Hitchin’s try takers required a fine save from Jordan Gilmore and was the closest Hitchin came to scoring this half, but the effort was certainly not lacking.

A third goal for the visitors after forty-three minutes and it appears to have been scored by a Triallist. I was later corrected and the scorer was Rhys Brown. A Barnet player was booked for an overzealous tackle and from the free kick Hitchin got a goal back, neatly slotted in by Lewis Franklin. So 1-3 and a slightly more respectable scoreline. Interval came right after.

The Barnet team for the second half was, I think, a close approximation of their first team. Hitchin made a couple of substitutions with Josh Mollison and Albie Hall. The football was a bit louder with Hitchin having to defend carefully, which they did.

A free kick in their own half provided a slim chance but favored the Barnet keeper. A good Barnet chance brought a corner which saw a header just wide of the bar. It was good to see this developing Hitchin side cope well with the senior opposition and they battled for more of the possession but the problem in the final third was still evident.

Albie Hall was fouled and there was a Hitchin substitution before he was taken off with Jay Rolfe replaced by Toby Syme. Fernando Bell-Toxtle. The free kick favored the opponent’s goalkeeper. There was a great few minutes which saw concerted pressure from Hitchin which was dealt with adequately but the attitude of the home players is to be commended.

A Barnet free-kick was ruled out for a referee’s intervention and when it was taken, the attack was beaten. No other goals in this second half dampened the fun. Then Stephen Gleeson made way for Dempsey Thomas for the remaining ten minutes.

All in all, it was quite a strong performance, with a goal almost scored from a corner, and that following some promising attacking play. Yes, we drew the second half so to speak and I heard a few home supporters say that Hitchin’s performance tonight was promising and the game itself was an entertaining one.

HITCHIN TOWN
James Callan, Jay Rolfe, George Morrall, Lewis Barker, Capt., Dan Sears, Ciaren Jones, Lewis Franklin, GOAL 1-3, 45 mins, Jack Dreyer, Connor Vincent, Triallist A, Triallist B.
Toby Syme, Josh Mollison, Triallist C, Fernando Bell-Toxtle, Shane Bush, Dempsey Thomas, Triallist D, Stephen Gleeson, Albie Hall, George Devine.

BARNET FIRST HALF
Jordan Gillmore, Ade Oluwo, Joe Grimwood, Myles Kenlock, Nik Tavares, Anthony Hartigan, GOAL, 0-1, 34 minutes, Billy Clifford, Triallist A, Finley Wilkinson, GOAL, 0-2, 38 minutes, Patrick Matejko, Rhys Brown , GOAL, 0-3, 43 minutes.

BARNET SECOND HALF
Nick Hayes, Joe Kizzi, Joe Rye, Jerome Okimo, Jordan Cropper, Mark Shelton, Jack Blower, Ben Coker, Callum Stead, Zak Brunt, Nicke Kabamba.

REFEREE: Mr C Poole, assisted by Mr T Cartwright and Mr M Mellor.

Pipeman’s report