Hitchin Town 2 v North Greenford Utd 0

(Zamaretto League Central Division - Saturday 4th September 2010)

At the end of a hardworking, gutsy performance for eighty-nine minutes on Saturday against one of the Zameretto Central League’s title favourites, Hitchin Town, events turned sour for North Greenford in a dramatic finale which saw the Canaries score twice and United keeper Gary Jallow sent from the field of play by referee Mark Engelbretson for using foul and abusive language.

During an engaging and entertaining first period North Greenford more than held their own. Indeed the Blues had a good opportunity to open the scoring when, early on in the game, right midfielder Andre DeLisser broke through on the right but was unable to keep the ball down and his shot sailed over the crossbar.

The team also looked solid and well-organised at the back and it wasn’t until the eighteenth minute that Hitchin came closest to opening their account when the side’s attack-minded full back Tony Fontenelle made a strong run down the right before crossing a fine low ball into the path of striker Thomas Mustapha. Mustapha’s accurate strike looked goal bound, but his effort was thwarted by a superb Jallow save, the Greenford keeper diving low to his left and parrying the ball round the post.

A little over half an hour into the match United had a further goal-scoring opportunity when Garry Senior created space for himself on the edge of the Hitchin box but like DeLisser fired his shot over the bar. Not long after, at the other end, the Canaries top scorer Jamie Arlick found the back of the Greenford net but his effort was ruled out when referee Engelbretson awarded a free kick for a foul on United centre back Jamie Diston.

Within minutes and with half-time looming, Greenford again had Jallow to thank for keeping the scores level at the interval. On this occasion it was Mustapha’s turn to supply a cross for his strike partner. Arlick hit the target with a firm header but it wasn’t good enough to beat the Blues keeper who brought off another excellent save, this time pushing the ball over his crossbar for a corner.

Hitchin raised their game in the second half. With just three minutes played Jallow again did well, getting to the ball ahead of Mustapha when the Canaries striker was through on goal. On the hour he was once again called into action to keep out another goal bound Arlick effort. United had to show resilience and dig in deep. That’s exactly what they did with some courageous and, at times, desperate last-ditch defending, with captain Chris Hibbs leading the way by providing excellent support for the back four across the park. The team though were not doing themselves any favours in referee Engelbretson’s eyes, with centre back Nick Turner booked for dissent and Luke Kenny fortunate only to be shown yellow when he kicked out at a Hitchin player.

But, with just two minutes of normal time remaining, it looked as though the Blues were going to hold out for what would have been an unlikely but, on the basis of the side’s battling and determined defensive display, deserved point. It might actually have gone one better if, at this point, on one of the few occasions the side had got the better of the Hitchin defence, Garry Senior’s neat lob over keeper Martin Bennett had found the back of the net rather that sail agonisingly past the wrong side of the Canaries post.

In what was virtually the next move of the game Hitchin finally broke down the Greenford resistance when the Blues were unable to prevent Callum Donnelly’s powerful close range strike finding its target. Even at this late stage, United pressed for an equaliser and the side came close to doing so on ninety minutes when, from a corner, a goal mouth scramble was somehow cleared following some desperate Hitchin defending. Two minutes into injury time the home team made sure of the points when substitute Zak Burke got on the end of a through pass and drove the ball past Jallow, this time giving the Blues keeper no chance.

The moment provided a double blow for United when Jallow’s protest, claiming Burke had received the ball in an offside position, made referee Engelbretson see red. It was a harsh decision as Jallow was not the only player to have used foul and abusive language during the game. However, both the Greenford players and supporters must learn to express their objections to decisions made by officials in an appropriate way if the club is to avoid further disciplinary action as the season progresses.

The players now need to put the disappointment of this result behind them as they prepare for next Saturday’s F.A. Cup First Qualifying Round home tie against Northwood and home league match against Biggleswade Town scheduled for Tuesday 14th September (k.o. 7.45pm).

NGU team: Gary Jallow, Stuart Derry, Ryan Fenton, Nick Turner, Jamie Diston, Michael Murray (Jamie O’Connell 76), Andre DeLisser, Chris Hibbs (Captain), Garry Senior, Ricky Pither, (Joe Sparrowhawk 68), Luke Kenny