Match Report | Hitchin Town (H)
The Yeltz come back from the setback of a Hitchin equaliser to take all three points and end a four game winless run
Brief Overview
The Yeltz took the lead eight minutes before first half stoppage time, as Vanylson Silva scored from 30 yards out by finding the top right corner. The hosts equaliser came on 65 minutes, and came through a wonderful solo run from defender Jamie Breen, who on his third league appearance for the club found the bottom right corner of Dan Platt’s net.
After four without a win, anything other than three points seemed less than desirable. Just over 10 minutes before the 90 was due to be up, Jason Cowley won a penalty after drawing a foul from Blue Joy in the box, having already been brought down outside the area, but getting back up. The penalty, a minute later, was dispatched by sending teenage goalkeeper Jack Mason the wrong way.
Match Report
Despite playing our third midweek game in as many weeks in our recent Tuesday night draw with Alvechurch, Russ Penn made just the one change for this game from that XI. It was a return to the line up for Vanylson Silva, as he replaced Samson Hewett. After the new of Ryan Wollacott’s departure in the morning, there was a spot on the bench for Rob Evans, who is also currently on his dual registration with Corby Town.
The visitors came to The Grove after a midweek Hertfordshire Senior Cup defeat away to St Albans City. Manager Michael Jones made many changes. There were four changes from their last league game, a 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough Sports last weekend. One forced change saw the injured Tyler McGregor replaced by young keeper Jack Mason. The other three saw Charlie Briggs, Ciaren Jones & Dan Stokoe replace Simeon Olarerin, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia & Callum Nicolson.
The game started with a chance just 45 seconds in for the away side, after Real Bedford loanee Owen Brooks chased the ball down on the left. He passed to Dan Stokoe, who found Luke Stokoe. The latter’s shot spun wide, before a corner delivered in by the former was headed over by captain Ciaren Jones. It was a very slow start to the contest, and these were the only efforts at goal for the first 15 minutes.
Once the quarter of the hour was up, saw the visitors flurry forward from Luke Stokoe win as corner off Josh Bailey. The delivery from Dan Stokoe reached centre half Charlie Briggs at the back post. The defenders cross from the edge do the area went out for another corner, which taken by Dan Stokoe, missed everyone in the box. Our time to shine and first effort at goal came two minutes later, as a Dan Meredith cross was flicked on by Todd Parker to Cowley, whose overhead kick went into the top of the net.
The visitors purple patch didn’t last long, and we ended the half very well. A second Meredith cross on 23 minutes into the box, saw Vanylson Silva out leap his marker but fail to direct his header on target. A few minutes later, a cross from Bailey nearly inadvertently went into the top right. The young Hitchin keeper got a touch to tip it out for a corner, and Bailey’s delivery was headed on by Matt Preston at the back post, but into the gloves of Mason.
We gradually got closer and closer to the opener. A cross from Jim Kellermann just after the half hour mark found Cowley on the by-line. He kept the ball in play and hooked it in behind to Meredith. The Yeltz fullback went just a shot, which was blocked by Jamie Breen. Two minutes later, A ball through down the left from Butterfield found Silva. The winger continued his run into the box, where Mason forced a corner. The delivery from Kellermann was headed clear by Canaries striker Sean Duodu.
The unlikely opener from Silva, purely down to the ability of the strike, proved its always worth a shot from range. We continued our strong form into the interval. A Kellermann shot went over the bar, while an error from the Hitchin keeper making just his third league appearance of the season nearly proved costly. He gave the ball straight to Cowley, but got on his line quicker than the Yeltz number 9 could get away a shot. The opening 45 ended with a cross from Meredith to Cowley, who leaning back hooked his header over the bar.
Our number 22 continued his front foot performance into the second half, and went by himself early on to win a corner. The delivery from first half substitute Samson Hewett was punched to the Meredith on the edge, whose shot was blocked by 18 year old centre half Blue Joy. It was Meredith at the centre again not long after, after receiving the ball from Ryan Wynter. The fullback went on a brilliant run forward to give the ball to Cowley in a forward area. The latter went for a strike at goal, and even with the pace on the ball, Mason easily claimed at the second attempt.
Just before the hour mark, there were chances at both ends. First the visitors won a corner through Breen, which was headed into the gloves of Platt by Briggs. Up the other end, Meredith’s cross to Butterfield was headed over. Even though we didn’t play to our best going forward in the opening stages of the second half, the away side were able to find their equaliser through the excellent run from Breen.
The Hertfordshire sides day nearly got even better, as substitute Dylan Stitt found himself 1v1 after a long ball forward caught us out. The midfielder went around Platt, but slipped at the crucial moment and saw his effort float wide of the goal and into Wynter’s possession. This was the last chance for the visitors, as we ended the half strong, nearly adding a third on 86 minutes through a Hewett header from a Silva cross. The win was ours, and much needed as well to extend our unbeaten league run to five games.
Attendance: 1,126
Man of the Match: Vanylson Silva (chosen by Steven Scott & WD Doors)
Teams
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Matt Preston, Ryan Wynter (C), Todd Parker, Jason Cowley, Vanylson Silva (Rob Evans 90+2′), Milan Butterfield (Neo Dobson 75′), Josh Bailey (Samson Hewett 40′), Jim Kellermann, Dan Meredith
Unused Subs: Lewis Ison & Ty Barnett
Hitchin: Jack Mason (GK), Toby Syme, Jamie Breen (Callum Nicolson 86′), Blue Joy (Jack Snelus 82′), Charlie Briggs, Ciaren Jones (C), Luke Stokoe, Kavan Cotter (George Morrall 62′), Sean Duodu (Diogo Freitas-Gouveia 74′), Owen Brooks (Dylan Stitt 62′), Dan Stokoe
Unused Subs: None