Draycott double downs the Canaries

This was a great victory as we came from a goal down after only 3 minutes to beat the Canaries with a double strike from Mark Draycott (pictured), now on the brink of a century of goals for the club and was only marred by the sending off of Dean Stow after an unnecessary altercation on the touchline. We are now in 4th.place, our highest ever position but look likely to drop back when Weymouth and Corby play their games in hand during the week whilst we meet Slough Town in the Berks. & Bucks. Senior Cup.

We gained an early corner after a run by Lee Smith, but were stunned when Robbie Burns was allowed to turn inside and fire a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net from way out wide before we seemed aware of the danger, and Paul Strudley managed to scramble away another shot as the visitors threatened to increase their lead. We at last began to get a grip of the game and Tahj Bell finger-tipped a shot from James Pilling over the bar following a corner. The unfortunate Hitchin keeper was injured soon afterwards and although he carried on for a few minutes, he was eventually replaced by Michael Johnson who was soon picking the ball out of the net when he failed to hold Pilling’s free-kick and Draycott was on hand to level the scores after 34 minutes. We now looked a much better side, having contained that early impetus of the visitors and there was no further score in the first half.

Although we were playing up the slope in the second half we more than held our own and Draycott went close when he went up with he keeper, who managed to hold on to the ball and clear the danger. There was still little between the two sides in a fascinating battle which kept the spectators on tenterhooks but we suffered a setback when Dean Stow was sent off after getting involved in tussle with Brett Donnelly, but we made light of being a man short and still went for a win, eventually getting that vital goal after 86 minutes when Dan Cann sent Smith away on the left and he outpaced the defenders before sliding the ball through for Draycott to get on the end of the pass and get the final touch to knock the ball into the empty net

Team;Strudley, Stow , Jon, Boardman, Day, Herring, Rees, Pillng(Rusby), Cann(Clark) Draycott,(Parsons)Smith.. Subs; Goodger, O’Brien.