Hitchin 1 Purfleet 1

Away day blues

It is now seven games since we gained three points away from home and on Saturday had to be content with a single point as our game at Hitchin ended in a 1-1 draw.
We should have taken the lead within forty seconds of the kick off. Lee Allen played the ball through to Tresor Kandol whose run took him clear
of the Hitchin defence but in a one on one situation with Hitchin keeper James Robinson it was Robinson who came out the best. With the game still not two minutes old good chance came the home side's way. A long Hitchin clearance found Dean Brennan. Brennan played the ball to Carl Drew who should have taken his chance first time but he hesitated and the ball was cleared.

On 18 minutes only an excellent save from Alex O'Reilly prevented the home side taking the lead. Matt Nolan's cross was met by the head of James Aires, which looked to be heading for the top corner of the net but was prevented by O'Reilly's finger tip save.

Just before half time Hitchin took the lead. Adam Parker heading home Brennan's free kick from the left hand side. Parker almost increased the home side's lead right on the stroke of half time but his header was cleared from the line by John Purdie. In the second half we pressed hard for the equaliser and in the 69th minute should have had a penalty when Terry Bowes, who had come on as a substitute, seemed to have his shirt pulled but the referee thought otherwise.
A few minutes later Bowes had a good chance to put us on equal terms but he shot wide when well placed. With three minutes to go we equalised. Martyn Lawrence's initial shot, following a Dean Chandler free kick, was saved by Robinson who could only parry the ball to Bowes who scored from close range.

A share of the points was a fair reflection of the play.