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Boro
crashed to their third successive home defeat against a workmanlike
Hitchin Town. All the goals came in the last 20 minutes. With
confidence throughout the side at a very low ebb, this is a major
test for the management skills of Ed Stein and his team.
Harrow
nearly got off to a sensational start. From the kick-off a clever
ball by Derek Payne over the Hitchin defence sent Marcus Richardson
free but the striker got a poor bounce and could only scuff his
shot straight at 'keeper Bonfield. Hitchin had an excellent chance
after four minutes when a three man move set up Nathan Lamey but
Oliver Lyons did enough to cause Lamey to knock the ball wide
from six yards.
Boro
had more of the possession in the mid period of the first half.
Pat Gavin had a good effort blocked by Parker after a corner and
then Bonfield tipped a fiercely struck drive by Derek Payne over
the bar. But Boro's best chance of the half fell to Marcus when
a through ball by John Hurlock sent him free on the keeper but
Bonfield did well to save with his legs. Coming up to half time,
Marcus chased down a seemingly lost ball played it back for Andy
Rose who crossed for Pat Gavin whose header was saved by the keeper.
After a bout of good passing Derek Payne drove just wide.
At
half-time Boro supporters were reasonably content with the performance
if disappointed with the lack of goals. The second half took on
the same pattern. Pat Gavin drove over from the edge of the box.
Then Keith Newby turned the defence before finding Marcus who
drove across goal but wide. Hitchin defended resolutely if not
with great subtlety, keeping the ball boys in the gardens and
keeping the spectators on the touchlines on their toes as clearances
flew out of play. Boro began to play with a little more craft
and worked the ball through midfield but were not quite able to
manufacture clear cut openings. Derek Payne sent a chip well wide
and Pat Gavin's bicycle kick looked spectacular but was off target.
Hitchin
did not look a potent attacking force at this stage and when they
did get into the Harrow penalty area David Hook saved comfortably
from Cliff Akurang. But after 64 minutes the visitors brought
on Matt Nolan and Gary Dixon and the complexion of the game changed.
The visitors took the lead after 71 minutes. A free kick from
the right was headed down by Allpress and Adam Parker forced the
ball in. Almost immediately Nolan headed narrowly over as Hitchin
sensed the game had turned their way. But it was Boro who scored
next. A cross by Steve Barnes was volleyed goalwards by John Hurlock
and although Bonfield did well to get down to make a block, Keith
Newby netted the rebound.
As
so often this season, after scoring Boro gave away a quick goal.
Parker's attempted cross field pass struck Derek Payne in the
bread basket, bounced into the path of Nolan who was brought down
on the edge of the box by Andy Rose. Nolan's kick struck the wall,
and after a couple of ricochets found Tim Allpress who drove it
in. Nolan set up a good chance for Dixon but he was foiled by
a fine save by David Hook. Derek Payne fired over the bar before
Hitchin got a spectacular third in the 86th minute, Nolan curling
the ball into the top far corner from the wide edge of the penalty
area.
In
the final minute Parker headed in from a free kick by Williams
to complete another miserable evening for Boro. Hitchin deserved
the points if for no other reason than they finished better than
Boro, but they were no Gravesend or Farnborough and this was a
measure of Boro's performance. On the positive side Boro worked
hard, and did not get the run of the ball but sides in trouble
never do.
Only
hard work and determination will change fortunes. In their present
crisis Boro would not have chosen away games at Billericay, Aldershot
and Chesham for their next fixtures but where better to start
back on the winning trail?
