|
Rugby
United 2-0 Hitchin Town |
| competition
date
attendance
goalscorer(s)
star
man |
Southern
League Premier Division
11th
September 2004
343
Robbie
Beard, Jon Douglas
Jamie
Williams |
The
first half was a dour affair, with chances few and far
between, and the first twenty minutes or so was somewhat
of a non-entity with neither side getting on top.
The
visitors posed very few problems in the first half and
lacked rhythm, it was United who were setting the tempo
and created a few decent chances.
It
took fourteen minutes for a shot to be registered; Craig
Dutton chipped a ball through for Justin Marsden but
the striker could not keep his effort down after beating
a defender.
Rugby thought they had the
lead three minutes when Jamie Williams’ persistent run
ended with the ball finding its way to Robbie Beard, who
turned well in the box, but his shot was deflected and
went agonisingly past the post.
Beard
was again involved after another lean spell in the game
attacking-wise and after his break down the right, the
record-breaking striker whipped a ball across the Hitchin
goalmouth, but there was no-one on hand to apply a finish.
To
finish off the half, with which Hitchin tested Jason
Pearcey for the first time after 41 minutes, Marsden
made in-roads down the left and played the ball back
for Dutton, whose low shot was blocked.
Hitchin,
to their credit, worked their way back into the game
and were very unlucky not to take the lead five minutes
after the break.
A defensive mix-up on the edge of the area gave
the Canaries a chance and after a scramble in the area,
the ball broke for Mark Bridge who turned the ball into
the net from six yards, but the assistant had raised
his flag.
The
second half wasn’t much better than the first, but Rugby
should have taken the lead, when Marsden found Beard
down the right, who then crossed a delightful ball into
the box for Steve Evans to run onto, but the midfielder
could only head the ball wide when it should have found
the back of the net.
The
visiting support was then incensed when the referee
turned down what seemed to be a strong appeal.
The Rugby defence was caught square and Bridge
raced clear only to be sent tumbling by Andy Commander
as he lined up to shoot and it was unclear whether he
got enough of the ball or not, but the referee had no
doubt.
Bridge
was again involved minutes later as Hitchin continued
the pressure in the second half, but his effort was
blocked before Dobson made a telling substitution with
Jon Douglas appearing as a substitute to create a three-man
frontline.
Immediately,
the young substitute had an impact, getting down the
right and flashed the ball across the box before Rugby
took the lead.
A
corner was cleared and Robbie Beard picked up
the ball on the right, and after being half-tackled,
Rugby’s number nine took the ball past the defender
and curled a superb left-footed shot over the goalkeeper
from the edge of the area and into the top corner.
At
the other end, the Canaries searched for an equaliser
but Stuart Maynard shot wide from the edge of the area
while Hitchin continued to play balls forward without
creating too many clear cut chances.
Ten
minutes from time, Rugby could have wrapped up the points
as Beard broke down the right and whipped a ball across
the goalmouth but Marsden just couldn’t quite apply
the finish.
The
game eventually secured when Marsden cut the ball back
to Jon Douglas in the area, and he finished with
ease into the corner of the net. |
