St. Albans City 0 Hitchin Town 1

Saturday 6th December

Clarence Park

The Citizens' local "Derby" game with Hitchin Town in the Herts and Middlesex League at Clarence Park , on Saturday, was a somewhat disappointing encounter, and Hitchin were exceedingly fortunate to get away with both points.

Both sides were depleted, particularly in attack. Hitchin were without J, W. Lingwood, their regular centre-forward, who is the leading scorer in the competition, and J. T. Jones, their usual right-winger, Stokes, a junior, deputised for Lingwood, and P. Murphy, a brother of R. Murphy, Hitchin's "star" of pre-war days, figured at outside-right.

St. Albans had great difficulties in fielding an eleven. E. Cook had to cry off owing to Home Guard duties; Corporal Wright, of the South Lancs, was not available, and L. Abrahams was also unable to play. L/Cpl, H. Milner Filled Cook's place and D. Rand, now a flight mechanic in the R.A.F., who was home on leave. turned out at outside-left. Even then the Citizens could muster only ten men, and Hitchin came to their rescue by loaning them W. McGarry, one of their former players, who is now in the R.A.S.C., and, being on leave, accompanied his old colleagues as a spectator. He figured at right ball-back for St. Albans and played extremely well.

FORWARDS' POOR FORM.

Forward work on each side was poor; but players were labouring under difficult conditions caused by a very strong wind and a ball that cut some queer antics. This was the first game of the season in which St. Albans had failed to score, and it was also the first time since August 30th that the Hitchin defence had not yielded at least one goal.

The wind blew up the slope and Hitchin, with the advantage of the conditions in the first half, had somewhat the better of the exchanges. Westwood was to the fore in initiating attacks, but for the most part the Hitchin forwards were well held. Hall, who played a grand game at centre-half for the Citizens, completely overshadowed Stokes, while Milner and Reid, although their kicking lacked strength, tackled effectively, and Powell, in goal, was seldom hotly beset.

Hitchin obtained what proved to be the only goal of the game after fourteen minutes' play. R. Murphy put a long, slanting centre across the field. Flint might have shot, but he allowed the ball to go on to P. MURPHY, who delivered a low, oblique drive which caught Powell somewhat by surprise. The goal-keeper got his baud to the ball but was unable to keep it out of the net.

FEW DIFFICULT SHOTS.

Powell subsequently made good saves from Clarke and R. Murphy, while at the other end R. Jones cleared a good. shot from Robinson and McGarry just missed with a fine low drive, but really dangerous shots were few. There were appeals for a penalty kick when a defender appeared to intercept a shot from Richardson with his hand; but the referee signalled for play to proceed.

Generally forward play on both sides was very ragged in the first half and there was little surprise that officials of each club tried to effect an improvement by re-arranging their attacks at the interval. In the second hall, the Citizens had Robinson at inside-right, Rand at centre-forward, Kirkham at inside-left and Richardson at outside-left. That formation certainly did much better without being able to find finishing power. Hitchin moved Stokes to inside-right, Flint to centre-forward, R. Murphy to inside-left, and L. Clark, who was feeling unwell, to outside-left.

St. Albans, with the wind at their backs, almost completely monopolised play in the second half and Hitchin's attacks after the interval were limited to a few raids, in the course of which Flint missed the two easiest scoring chances of the game. Within a minute of resuming, Rand netted for St. Albans, but was ruled offside.

"PANICKY" DEFENDERS.

The Citizens tried very hard, and at periods their pressure caused the Hitchin rearguard to appear somewhat "panicky"; but Chamberlain, still a grand defender, Bland and Westwood made well-judged interceptions to foil many attacks. St. Albans made commendable attempts to take advantage of the conditions by trying first-time shooting from long range, but those efforts were invariably just off the target.

Chamberlain kicked out one fast, low shot from Robinson, and when Richardson, the Citizens' most enterprising marksman, went very close on three occasions. He certainly worked hard in his endeavours to pull the game round and placed a number of corner kicks to advantage from both wings, but when the ball was in the air, Hitchin's defenders’ advantage in height over St. Albans' forwards gave them the mastery.

The nearest St. Albans came to saving a point was when Richardson, put through by Crossley, who gave his best display for the club, delivered a powerful shot which proved altogether too hot for Jones to hold, Richardson, following up well, was foiled by the custodian, who dived at his feet, and Bland hurriedly put the ball behind for a corner-kick, from which Richardson hit the crossbar.

St. Albans City:H. Powell; H. Milner, J. Reid; W. McGarry, L. Hall, H. Crossley; W. Saunders, S. Kirkham, T Robinson, J. Richardson, D. Rand.

Hitchin Town:R. Jones; P. E. Chamberlain, R. B. Isaac; M. Theakstone, L. Bland, W. Westwood; P. Murphy, E. Flint, W. H. Stokes. L. Clark, R. Murphy.

Referee:Mr. A. Pearce (Luton).

14 SAC 0 1 Hitchin Town 6 Dec 1941