Hitchin Town 1, Grays Athletic 1

IT was a case of what might have been for Grays Athletic on Saturday  (16) as they conceded a very late and unfortunate equaliser in their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie away at Hitchin Town. 

Although they spent much of the game defending, it was an excellent display by Blues who frustrated their opponents for long periods and only the cruelest slice of misfortune prevented the win.

Blues started the game brightly, the returning Harry Hope creating a couple of half chances in the first two minutes and Luke Hirst crossing into the box but without finding a team mate on the end. 

At the other end, the lively Mbunya Alemanji, brought a comfortable save from George Marsh. 

Grays broke the deadlock 13 minutes in. Oscar Shelvey broke free in midfield and his deep cross into the box picked out the advancing Callum Fitzer, whose first time shot was one of those that either busts the net or goes into high orbit. Fortunately for the Blues, it was the former, sending the large travelling contingent of fans wild.

Hitchin set about getting themselves back in the game, and used the width of the pitch well. 

Fulllbacks Lewis Franklin and Callum Kane were seeing a lot of the ball and starting most of the home side's forward moves. Grays though were content to sit in, defend the penalty area and repel all borders. 

At the back, Lewis Clark and Kye Jude were an immense presence, clearing out whatever Hitchin threw into the box. And it was the latter who intercepted Taylor Rhiney's goalward bound effort to keep Blues' lead intact.

Grays could have doubled their lead when Jayden Silcott-Brown broke clear but on the edge of the box, home keeper Josh Bowler combined with his defence to snuff out the chance and Hirst was unable to profit from the loose ball. Then just before the break, Rhiney had the Canaries' best chance of the half but headed over, when he should at least have hit the target.

The second half was attritional. 

The home side had much of the ball but were largely kept at bay by the Blues tight defence. 

All too often when Hitchin did get a sight of goal, either their radar was way off with the shot or there was a Grays player putting their body on the line to preserve the lead. Alemanji combined nicely with Kane but the chance was blocked and then sub Billy Heaps found himself clear on the edge of the box but again Kye Jude killed the ball before the Hitchin man could get the shot away.

Sid Walker was then adjudged to have gone in too hard outside the box and Blues held their breath at the free kick, but the defensive wall did its job.

Tyler Brampton was having a fine game at full back, showing great energy to get Grays upfield when the opportunity arose. But most of the chances were at the home end. Rhiney sliced a shot wide and Plamedi Bomelo, off the bench missed the goal with a clear header. 

Blues were riding their luck but holding firm, with the home side looking ever more desperate as the clock ticked down and Grays clearing their lines anyhow. Manager, Darren Manning, shuffled his pack from the bench, trying to block holes wherever they might appear.

Into injury time and another Rhiney header went straight at keeper George Marsh. 

The four minutes indicated by referee Mr Wolford had passed, as had an allowance for another late Grays substitution. But still the game went on. One final ball into the Blues box was met by Rhiney's head but with the ball going wide, it hit Macauley Joynes, wrong-footing keeper Marsh and nestled into the net to make it 1-1.

It was a cruel ending for Blues, having soaked up so much pressure for so long. Hitchin fans will think that having had so much of the ball, they deserved a slice of luck and the chance to take the tie to a replay - they have a good case to argue. 

But in cup football, all that counts is the result. And that, in this case, was a draw. So it's all back to Tilbury on Wednesday evening to do it all again. 

Special mention must be made of the travelling Blues fans who definitely were the 12th man, supporting their side non-stop for the duration of the game.