Magpies: Stalemate at Top Field as points are shared

WHEN the season is over and these two sides look back over their respective campaigns, this game won’t immediately spring to mind as a major highlight for either of them.

Saturday was Youth Day at Hitchin’s Top Field and a crowd of more than 600 turned up to watch the Canaries’ home clash with Dorchester.

It was just a shame that for those in attendance, including youngsters getting their first taste of football in the flesh, there wasn’t much to make it a very memorable contest.

However, Magpies’ player-manager Mark Jermyn admitted afterwards that he was “more than happy” with a share of the spoils.

And not only did the visitors pick up another point to take their total in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division to 38, but they also kept another clean sheet.

Goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris’ shutout meant the county town outfit kept successive clean sheets in the league for the first time this season – the 2-0 cup win over Wimborne in midweek actually means it is three in a row in all competitions.

Saturday’s game also saw Southampton loan signing Mark Irvine make his Magpies’ debut off the bench in the second half, and Jermyn was pleased with what he saw from the youngster in the 20 minutes or so he had on the pitch.

Speaking to Echosport about the stalemate, Jermyn said: “We’ve got a very good group of players and to go to Hitchin and get a result shows that.

“We felt we were on top in the first half but they changed their shape in the second half and came at us a bit more.

“But the boys dug in and although it wasn’t the best of games the lads did well to get a draw.

“The boys were a little bit disappointed in the changing room afterwards.

“We weren’t as good as we could have been but we stuck together and got another clean sheet.”

He went on to add: “Hitchin aren’t a bad side. I went there with Poole earlier this season and lost 1-0, so to get something was quite pleasing.

“I was more than happy with the result.”

Jermyn returned to the Dorchester side after sitting out the Wimborne win, while Sam Lanahan also came into the starting XI.

Jason Brookes dropped to the bench and Lewis Morgan missed out altogether with a knock to the ankle.

Hitchin had the first chance of the afternoon but Walker-Harris was more than up to the task, saving smartly in a one-on-one situation.

At the other end, Ben Watson broke free of the home defence only to fire wide of the target, before Nathan Walker went close to breaking the deadlock with only a few minutes of the first half left.

Both sides had headers either saved or go over the top after the interval, then Lanahan, who scored a late winner for Dorchester when the teams met at the Avenue last October, was denied by the Hitchin crossbar.

It was then the Canaries’ turn to be denied by the frame of the goal as they saw an effort rebound off an upright.

The introduction of Irvine, who had come on following Lanahan’s close call, nearly paid instant dividends for the Magpies.

Taking the ball down superbly, the Saints ace shot just wide when he might have made himself an immediate hero with the travelling fans.

The final chance fell to Lanahan but he could only head into the hands of Hitchin keeper Charlie Horlock.

So, in the end, 0-0 was probably a fair result as neither side really dominated proceedings.

Dorchester may have dropped one place to 17th in the table after Cambridge City’s win, though keeping that 10-point gap between them and the bottom three is more important.

Redditch United are the next opponents for Jermyn’s charges when they visit the Avenue this Saturday.

Hitchin: Horlock, Smith, Rolfe, Ann, Webb, McNamara, Kirkpatrick, Donnelly, Rees (Noone), Williams (Okojie), Peacock. Subs not used: Martin, Corran.

Magpies: Walker-Harris, Oldring, Dillon, Jermyn, Smeeton, Gleeson (Irvine), Lanahan, Tarbuck, Watson, Walker, Smith. Subs not used: Murray, Murphy, Brookes, Parrett.

Attendance: 620