PRE-SEASON MATCH PREVIEW: HITCHIN TOWN V LUTON TOWN

The Hatters travel to Top Field on Wednesday evening, 7.45pm kick-off

3 July 2017

The Hatters get their preparations for the 2017/18 season underway this week with their first pre-season game since Nathan Jones' squad returned after the summer break – with a short trip to local rivals Hitchin Town.

WHO?

The Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division side fell agonisingly short of promotion last term, losing in the play-off final against Leamington after Brakes netted a late winner in a 2-1 victory. So far, manager Mark Burke has added Elliot Bailey, Connor Vincent, Jack Green and a familiar face to Hatters, as Charlie Smith has joined the Canaries. Smith signed a professional contract with the Town back in 2014 after coming through the youth ranks.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Kick-off is at 7:45pm on Wednesday 5th July at Top Field. The address for the ground is:
Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1NU

TICKET AND PROGRAMME PRICES?

£10 for adults, £6 for concessions and free entry for Under-16s, which will be available on the gate. You can get a programme for £2.

LAST TIME WE PLAYED?

The Hatters travelled to Top Field last season for a pre-season friendly at the beginning of August, with Isaac Vassell firing home the only goal of the game.

(Pictured: Isaac Vassell in action at Top Field last season, as the Hatters ran out 1-0 winners)

Match Previews

Match Reports

HITCHIN TOWN 2 LUTON TOWN 2

Tomlinson and James net second half goals as Hatters fight back

5 July 2017

A young Hatters side fought back from two down at half-time to draw 2-2 as pre-season got underway at Evo-Stik League Southern Premier neighbours Hitchin Town tonight, with Connor Tomlinson and Jack James netting the goals.

With three trialists and four professionals in the side – Frankie Musonda, Akin Famewo, Kavan Cotter and Arthur Read – the Town started brightly and one of the trialists forced a save from Hitchin keeper Michael Johnson in the third minute after being played in by Tomlinson.

Hitchin had the lead on 20 minutes, however, when Liam Brooks raced onto a fine ball through the middle of the Hatters’ defence and slotted coolly past the Town’s trialist goalkeeper.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 34 minutes with a fine strike from outside the box from Lucas Kirkpatrick found its way in off the inside of a post, but after the break it was a different story.

Tomlinson latched onto a fine through ball into the box from Michael Shamalo to fire past Canaries keeper Johnson and halve the deficit on the hour.

Then, with 73 minutes on the clock, substitute Callum Stead’s quick feet created space in the penalty area and James produced a neat finish past Johnson for the leveller.

The Town might have found a winner three minutes later when more good work on the left by Stead finished with an inviting cross stood up to the far post for fellow sub Scott Belgrove, but the striker’s volley was blocked by Johnson.

TOWN: Trialist (Parker 66), James, Musonda (Mead 56), Famewo (Jones 56), Panter (Byron 66), Cotter (Richardson 62), Trialist, Read (Belgrove 62), Trialist, Tomlinson (Neufville 62), Shamalo (Stead 62)

Match Reports