SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, TUES 4TH SEPT 2007 7.45PM

Top Field is always a favourite place to visit but we usually travel in the daytime. Midweek is different, if only because it is not realistic to use the train, partake in the joys of The Victoria before and after, and still get home on the same day.

So it was a trip in the 'big' car - at least it was typically sunny Hitchin Away weather – and a horrible reminder of what it must be like to live within 40 miles of The Great Wen.

On the map, 128 miles cross country. Easy peasy. On the ground, traffic jams, accidents (diversions), road works (diversions) and three and a half sodding hours later a sore backside and a 'we might as well win this game having come all this way feeling'.

Hitchin Town 1 Cirencester Town 1

Top Field looked a picture but under the green top the pitch was in fact a bit hard and bobbly. There is something about footy under floodlights that seems to make teams want to play it on the deck. But it does make photos difficult. Anybody got a Canon long lens that goes up to 3200 ISO going spare? Thought not.

Both sides spent a lot of time in this match slotting good passes around - wide and long, short and quick. And, from first to last, they both gave it a lung bursting pace.

Three early half openings had Ciren on the front foot – each time, that split second of being in the right time at the right place just evaded Snaky and Hally though the fact that they were forcing the defence to work was encouraging.

Best chance fell to Nathan, supporting Hally, and when he got away from a sublime little flick on from our forward, forced Rick Perks to come and fumble with Hally being baulked to the loose ball by the massive Lance Gentle-King. It is so far around that bloke that I'm sure he has little yellow AA Diversion signs in his 'personal space'.

The Canaries always seem to have nippy little wide men and 2 massive centre backs. Contain the first lot, close their space and crossing options down, and their early momentum fades. By and large we did that, though there were enough times that their twinkling feet and pass chasing got them into a chance for a cross

At the other end, pass it around the big, slow turner defenders and go for the gaps and the chances will come. Knock it big and they'll nut it away. Again, by and large we did both, though there were enough times when our passing was crisp, accurate and penetrating to give us a chance of a strike on goal.

It was that kind of match. Fast, open, lots of chances, lots of good defending. It needing officials who would also be up for it. By and large, we got that as well. Though, on 26 minutes a superb set of passes ended with Hally timing his peel and burst into the gap onto the ball to absolute perfection. Only to get a flag.

It is gutting for a forward to be on the end of everything he practices at every training session then to be denied by an error. Small comfort for us all to hear John from the Muppets offering the lino the SpecSavers voucher that John always makes available for linos.

On 11 minutes twinkle toes Wayne Mills was bustling through the middle, seemed to me to have knocked it too far ahead so Moly calmly stepped up and moved the ball away only for the ref to blow for a free. Obstruction? What foul? Turns out later it was for clipping the lad from behind, the ref allowing advantage until he decided to call it back.

Twenty yards out, wall in place, Bully moves a step to his right to cover the top right hand corner. Hill taps the ball sideways to Ryan Frater and he sends an absolute belter screaming past the wall and over Bully to nestle in under the bar. Wall ducked? Bully could have got to it? Nah. Great timing on the strike, hit to perfection.

Admirable response from Ciren. Still passed it, still ran, Nathan and Harry E working hard to find Jacko in space. And he was backed up by some great channel running and spinning off the ball by Snaky and Hally.Three times they got half way through only to have the defender get a toe to it.

On 16, Nathan collected in midfield after Big E had reacted quickest to rob Jason James and nick Haise free. Striding on, Davo was open and burning up the right. Out it goes from Haise, Mountford is drawn across to cover and Hally immediately is zipping into the gap left by the change of angle with Davo at once slotting him into the right channel. Defence being pulled all over the place.

Hally looks up, steadies, good weight of pass to Nick Stanley in the D. Snaky stands strong, great body screen and first touch, sways left, goes right and gets round the yellow AA Diversion signs to hit first time left footed across the keeper.

Going for the bottom corner but maybe just not quite enough zippppp it skipped and bounced and rolled. When it reached the little slope on which the posts at Top Field are mounted the ball rolled wretchedly an inch the wrong side. Deserved much better, Snakes. Great move and strike, not a thing wrong with owt since Big E had started it 60 yards away.

Tyron Sealey is on loan from Stevenage, highly rated by them.. And you could see why. First couple of times he'd made himself so much space Hilds was on the wrong page of the map. Credit to Hilds. He plays with his head up, learns quick and has a lovely, confident touch. Gives him time.

He and Sealey had a great tussle all match and the way Hilds tracked him down, waited and then got his tackle in made their speccies rapidly change their mind about “Their left back is weak”. Sealey started to wander infield to get away from Hilds and was at the centre of most of the moves as Hitchin seemed to dominate the rest of the half.

He danced through, always a heart in mouth moment when a forward runs at you in the box, but Moly was there to deflect his shot. But Bully could only watch when a sudden strike from the right, hit as the kid darted through onto a neat deflection beyond the defence gave him an opening, bounced off the post.

The Canaries were on song. You knew I had to say that. But Bully was, well, just bullish. Nothing fazed him, everything was grabbed. And in the middle of it all, Chris Collins was cool, calm and collected. Crosses may have rained in, oohs and aahs from the Shed End may have echoed, but nowt got through. Very impressive defensive discipline there.

It made it hard for Cirencester. When you're under pressure getting hold of the out ball is the priority. Even more important is keeping it. With Hally and Snaky now more isolated, they were having difficulty holding it up. And, not so good, shooting too early and too far out when they did make themselves a space. But on 42 minutes we had a golden chance.

Davo at long last got put away up the right, smacked in a cross with Snaky moving to meet it. Another spin and a real rasper fizzed in with Perks spilling it. It needed a sniffer following in but Hally, to be honest just as much on his heels as the defence had been from the speed of the counter, was that split second too far away to profit though he made a remarkable effort to cover those 10 yards in what seemed like less than a second.

Second half was more of the same. However, somebody in the Ciren dressing room had obviously pointed out that this was the second defining moment of their season (the first was getting through the first, nervy match?) and they could either invite the defeat their display was suggesting in the previous 20 minutes.

Or, to do this ... I'll guess it was something on the lines of make Hitchin's defence work harder, make sure the gaps are filled with you being on the front foot. And pass it into places that hurt.

So, while the second half was the same in that Hitchin continued dashing about, Ciren set about getting dominance in their own running about. Both Hilds and Davo were immediately more willing to risk being wide and upfield and they were rewarded with passes that took advantage of the better angle it offered for the out ball. It forced both Deeney and Mountford back.

Nathan had already been willing to control and move away from the tackle. He made a great run in support on 48 minutes and when Davo swung a good cross in Nathan was there first and his bullet header from the edge of the box (how fast was Nathan running, then?) flew inches over. Close. It set the mood for Ciren.

Now Big E was also taking the same gambles, and now not immediately trying to send Hally away but finding Frater's head with an overhit ball down the middle.

Instead it was slotting balls up to Hally coming back for the lay-up and then sending the pass back upfield, low into the gap for Snaky to chase into the channels. It wasn't working every time but Hitchin now had a different problem and could not solve it.

With Jason James and Shane Hill now trying to get control back in midfield, they could not go on the close support runs for the front men that they had been doing first half. Sure, trying like mad for a clincher, and with Ciren also going on attack, there were openings for Hitchin.

Jon Stevenson had an effort well saved at the near post on 60 minutes, Earlier, Sealey went close twice but after getting himself in space in the box he seemed to me to be mesmerised by Bully and tamely gave him the ball back.

Ollie Holder had maybe been taking the spirit of making sure the flank men got passes a wee bit too literally. Put nicely into space after cool control way back in the left quarter by Hilds, he set to find Davo wide right. But instead it turned into what looked horribly like a back pass that missed Bully and was heading for the net.

No chance. Bully won the sprint (defying the rule that says the ball always beats the man) got to the ball and scooped it away. Sealey collected beyond the far post and then decided it was not worth trying to score and lobbed it back to Bully. At least, that's what it looked like.

Up the other end, Shez came on for the exhausted Hally who had run himself to a stop and was bright and sharp enough to build on the weariness Hally had inflicted on the Hitchin defence. Big H had a snap shot off a corner go narrowly wide when he was first to react to a scramble off a corner on 67 minutes.

Hilds, more and more dangerous going forward, 3 times sent beautiful crosses in to the far post from the bye-line without reward before cutting in and firing a fizzer just past the far post on 76 minutes.

Hitchin were getting frantic. Jon Stevenson dropped Jacko with a nasty foul when they challenged for a midfield ball and chose instead to inflict damage. Nasty. Chris Collins as skipper quite rightly asked the ref about it and got a yellow for his pains.

Into the final stage of the game and it is all Ciren. Chris Collins literally took the game by the scruff of the neck. With Moly and Ollie working with him as one well drilled unit, the defence completely controlled every ball belted out by Hitchin and just kept the moves going towards me and Davie B all on our ownio under the Shed End.

Hilds gets more and more service. And it is glaringly obvious that while Tyron Sealey may be a stellar attacker he has yet to learn that part of his job is to close down his own direct opponent. Hilds interpasses neatly with Jacko, back to his best after a first half 20 minute session of horribly misplaced passes, and slots Shez through. Offside.

I'm nearly out of my pram until Davie B calmly points out that the timing was off and Frater had got his back line organised and stepped up together. Good defending, he says. And him a Man City fan.

He also points out that while Big H is now close up in support on the edge of the penalty area, his little flicks aren't coming off as he gets crowded out and what we need is a midfielder fresh on to run at their defence.

I'm thinking Jon Else for Jacko but it is Jon for Big H. Clever swap. Jacko is still there to collect from the defence and pass it on, while young Jon uses his twinkling feet and eye for a killer pass to keep Davo sending in cross after cross from the right.

A wicked corner from Davo on 86 minutes is only half cleared, Nathan goes up to win the header on the edge of the box, gets Gentle-King's knee in his back and his elbow in his neck and is down in agony.

Off balance, his knee has twisted and it looks bad as the stretcher comes on. And The Standard phone to ask for an update. Good timing cos I have 5 minutes to fill in Danny Hall. I'm thinking it has to be Robbo to make his debut as the sub (and Davie B agrees so his footy knowledge is thankfully on a par with mine) but no, it is Oggy. We are really going for it.

It is all mayhem in their third with Oggy really working hard to make their defence earn their corn. Except for one ugly moment when a clearance falls to Ollie, moving with admirable reading of the play to collect. Jon Stevenson is truly desperate now and goes over the top and gets a strongly protested but unarguable straight red on 88 minutes.

But, time is ticking away and in spite of Jon Else four times surging through and four times getting chopped for frees Ryan Frater is magnificent in the heart of the Canaries defence and getting everything away.

Ninety seven minutes after the ref blew to start the match, another corner wings in. Davo has found his range and it is yet another killer. Frater, under challenge by the magnificent Snaky who has run miles today but still wants it, gets his nut on it.

The ball loops away, dropping to the right of the D on the edge of the box. And there is Shez, where he should be having gone back to midfield when Oggy made his unplanned entry.

Dropping oh so slowly, with James and Mountford charging at him, Ian McSherry sets and lets it drop. No panic, he waits. And waits. And first time volleys absolutely perfectly and the ball rockets into the top corner with Rick Perks diving up and desperate but beaten by the sheer pace.

By the time he stops running, trying to get to Adi, he has been cornered on the half way line. And everybody, including possibly the lady who was serving perfect bacon rolls all match, is piled in on top of him.

Don't think I've made as much 'roar' for a goal since Alex Young scored that magic goal when Everton beat Spurs in '63 to clinch the title. Davie B is making even more noise. Which is unusual for a Mankie. The Muppetts are going mad; even Rita has her hands in the air. It's only a goal but so well deserved. Timed at 97, the record has to say 90.

And, at that precise moment, it is Danny Hall from The Standard back on the phone – 'finished yet?' No I say, but I think Shez will have to go off. 'Oh, dear. What's happened?' And he laughs when he is told Shez is under a pile of bodies and may have to be peeled off the pitch.

You don't get too many matches in your lifetime when things do go right. I'd have loved to have been in that squad and played in that match, if only because it was wide open, with so much space to make an impact.

Full credit to Ciren for standing up and making sure they got something out of that. I think I'd have liked to be in that squad just to hear whatever Adi and Oggy said at half time, and what ever Chris Collins said on the pitch, that team came of age in this league this year today.

The nice thing, the exclusive thing, about being in a team is whatever goes on in the dressing room is theirs. Today, they did a good job and can take pride in their work.

Game done now. This result is now history. Bedford on Saturday. We go to The New Eyrie and it all starts again. But, I would not bet against Ciren now.

Canaries: Rick Perks, Dave Deeney, Nick Mountford, Ryan Frater (c), Lance Gentle-King, Jason James, Tyron Sealey, Shane Hill, Jon Stevenson R84, Carl Williams, Wayne Mills
subs: Nat Gentle-King, Glen Lamacraft, Richard Pringle, Ben L'Honore, Leon Simpson

Centurions: Matt Bulman, Kevin Davies, Dan Hilder, Ollie Holder, Lee Molyneux, Chris Collins (c) Y67, Nathan Haisley [Paul 'Oggy' Hunt 86], Michael Jackson, Phil Hall [Ian McSherry 65], Nick Stanley, Harry Etheridge [Jon Else 83]
other subs: Danny Wallington, Steve Robertson

Ref: Mr W Porter, London  Did well - had to deal with some feisty challenges and got his decisions made without fuss or argument

Att: 218 Hitchin has amongst the friendliest fans in this league, for sure the best bacon butty this side of St Nicks Market in Brissle, and always a thoroughly entertaining programme. How Nick Jensen manages to dredge up all that different stuff each time beats me.

Fair play to him for the effort. And to the 16 Centurions who made the trip, some in style in the coach and some who tried every possible roadworks site North of London on their trip either coming in or away at the end

Ciren MoM: Matt Bulman As always, Chris Collins and Moly and Jacko got mentions, as did Nathan and Hilds (who in my opinion had a sparkler). Shez got a vote, not at all surprising that, as did Oggy again. Those two sure made an impact.

But all the way through, Bully just dominated his area tonight. Transfixed their little 11 three times, staring him down and making him give the ball up. Best bit – coming out at full stretch to pluck a cross off the centre forward with the sharp elbows.