Match Preview | Hitchin Town (A)

10 hours ago4 min read

Russ Penn marks his 50th game in charge of the Yeltz with a 200 mile round trip to face Hitchin Town at Top Field

Written by Ben Ditchfield

From Barwell away in March 2024 to Hitchin Town away in March 2025, Penn's 50th game in charge of the club takes place this weekend, as his Yeltz team enter into their 35th league game of the campaign with a trip to Hertfordshire as they look to go three away games in succession without defeat for the first time this year and record three consecutive clean sheets on the road since November 2019.

There have been 15 matches between the two since the start of the 21st century. The 15 fixtures have been split results wise over the years. The Yeltz have won six of them, but have also lost the same amount, with four contests that have finished level. The most recent game back in September, saw Penn's side suffer a rare heavy defeat.

The 4-0 scoreline was the clubs biggest margin of defeat at home for over seven years, and saw the side make three substitutions before the 50 minute mark. The Hitchin goals on the day came from Rio Deall, George Morrall, Lewis Barker and a player who rounded off the 4-0 win and since departed the club, Joseph Chidyausiku.

The Yeltz arrive into the game following a second successive one goal to nil victory against Banbury United, thanks to 24th goal of the campaign for Kieren Donnelly. Hitchin arrive into the match following a last gasp 3-2 defeat away to Bishop's Stortford last weekend. The Canaries took a three minute lead through Dan Stokoe's opener, before Nahum Melvin-Lambert swiftly equalised for Stortford. Lewis Franklin retook the Hitchin lead as they entered half-time, before a goal bang on the hour mark from Jake Thompson levelled the contest for a second time. A bright final half hour looked to have swung the momentum towards the visitors, only for Melvin-Lambert to break Canaries hearts in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.

The club have a poor defensive record in the 15 games since 2000 against the Hertfordshire side, as Hitchin have scored 12 goals in the last five matchups alone. Halesowen have kept just the three clean sheets in the fixtures, but have failed to score in just four of the 15 games (26%). Despite Hitchin's 21st league position, eight teams have scored fewer than their 45 goals. On the flip side, their recent goalscoring form differs, The Canaries have failed to score more than once in their last seven league games.

Canaries boss Michael Jones had never been a first team boss before being appointed at Hitchin. He spent a large period of his coaching life most notably at Watford in a development role, but he also spent time between 2009 & 2010 at Luton Town and Stevenage. He took charge at Top Field as interim boss last October, after the boss who beat the Yeltz 4-0 in the reverse fixture, was sacked. Jones won his first game in charge, a 3-0 Hertfordshire Senior Cup victory over Hadley. The interim boss proceeded to go unbeaten in the three games that followed. This was a huge factor in the decision to name him as the club's manager in a full capacity in November.

Hitchin have used a total of 43 players in the league this season, the third most behind Bedford (53), and Redditch (47). The club have used 45 players in all competitions, which has resulted in none of their players featuring in all their matches. Only five players have featured over 30 times this campaign in the club's 40 games, Rio Deall, Harry Titchmarsh, Ciaren Jones, Lewis Franklin and Toby Syme, the last three of which have started more than 30 games.

The Canaries have had 13 different scorers this season out of the players currently at the club. Dan Stokoe has scored the most, with eight, two of which have come so far this month. Rio Deall and Coree Wilson have six, but the latter moved to St Ives in November, and Deall has failed to score in his last seven appearances. Hitchin have had 22 players feature over 10 times in the league this season, only Stourbridge (23) have had more.

Despite their league position, Hitchin have improved since the turn of the year, and are currently 14th in the 2025 league table. In terms of their defensive statistics, only Lowestoft (15) have conceded more than goals the Canaries' 13 in the 15 minute period before half-time. Only Redditch and Lowestoft (12) have conceded more than Hitchin in the 15 minute period after the break, and the Hertfordshire have conceded more than anyone else in the division across the first 15 minutes of matches.

All of this has accumulated into them conceding first in 58% (20/34) of their games, only Lowestoft with 59% (19/32), have a higher percentage. Hitchin have scored 25 goals in the first half, a surprising statistic that has meant only Royston (26), and Telford (32), have scored more. This has resulted in just 20 goals in the second half, which has meant only Royston (22), have had more games without a second half goal this season, than Hitchin's 19 matches.

Key Seasonal Stats

Hitchin

League Position - 21st

Season Record - PL40 10W 9D 21L 52GS 69GC

Form (Last 5 Games) - WLDDL

Top Scorer - Dan Stokoe (8 Goals)

Most Appearances - Lewis Franklin (38)

Most Starts - Lewis Franklin (36)

Biggest League Win - 4-0 vs Halesowen Town (Away - 21st September)

Biggest League Defeat - 4-0 vs Barwell & 5-1 vs Stourbridge (Away - 26th August & Home - 19th October)

Longest Unbeaten Run - 4 Games (29th October - 23rd November)

Longest Winless Run - 8 Games (10th August - 21st September)