Bury Town remain second in the league despite suffering another heavy defeat
Bury Town were left reeling early on as Hitchin Town wasted no time in stamping their mark on this game and went 3-0 up inside 17 minutes. On 4 minutes Jamie Breen hit the Bury post before Owen Brooks scored with his follow up strike. Then on 6 minutes a Hitchin corner played in by Callum Nicolson was headed home by Ciaren Jones and on 17 minutes confusion between the Bury keeper and defence let in Jack Snelus to score into an open goal. On 20 minutes Diogo Freitas Gouveia got down the wing for Hitchin and his cross into the box went just too far in front of Jack Snelus for him to get anything on the ball. On 22 minutes another Hitchin attack saw Jamie Breen set up Luke Stokoe to shoot from a tight angle and his effort was blocked. Bury won a free kick on 26 minutes and Ally Conway sent a ball into the box which was half cleared out to George Quantrell who shot over the bar. On 35 minutes another ball into the box from Ally Conway found Jamie McGrath but a heavy first touch saw the ball go out of play. Jamie McGrath gave Bury something to build on when Ally Conway’s ball into the box found Sam Ford and he set up McGrath to score on 37 minutes but that was as good as it got for Bury. Tayos Flowers went close for Bury on 45 minutes when his shot from distance was deflected on to the crossbar.
Half Time: Hitchin Town 3 Bury Town 1
Second half became a scrappy affair as the weather and the pitch deteriorated with the continuous rain fall. On 46 minutes a double save from Charlie Beckwith kept the game at 3-1. On 48 minutes Tommy Smith put a cross into the box for Bury and Jamie McGrath headed wide of the far post. On 61 minutes Max Maughn sent a ball into the Hitchin box and Ally Conway’s downward header was cleared by the defence. The Hosts went straight on the attack and Owen Brooks saw his low shot from distance go just wide of the far post. On 70 minutes a miss hit goal kick from Bury gave Daniel Stokoe a chance to shoot and Charlie Beckwith made the recovery and parried the ball away from danger. On 78 minutes Max Maughn set up Callum Page to push on into the Hitchin box but some superb defensive work from Daniel Stokoe saw him not only win the ball back but also bring it out from the back. On 79 minutes Diogo Freitas Gouveia was allowed to travel with the ball and he got into the Bury box but pulled his shot just wide of the near post. Hitchin went further in front on 80 minutes when a corner was collected by Daniel Stokoe and his shot through a crowded box found the back of the net. On 84 minutes Bury went close when Ollie Canfer headed against the bar with his first effort and the keeper made the save from his second attempt. Then in added time substitute Sean Duodu hit a hopeful low shot from distance which beat Charlie Beckwith. The final whistle came and Hitchin had taken an easy win and Bury were left to reflect on another heavy league defeat, their second game in eleven days in which they have conceded five goals. Bury now have three home games to put things right and will be looking to bounce back quickly.
Full Time: Hitchin Town 5 Bury Town 1
The David Longman Man of the Match: Tommy Smith
Match Rating: 3 / 5
Attendance: 458