Predcition - WELWYN GARDEN CITY

[steve.max]

This was always going to be a tough encounter and so it proved. Having conceded an early goal Hitchin gradually came to terms with Welwyn`s rugged style and probably had the better of the play by the time the penalty was awarded and scored. The sending off of the Welwyn player changed things in the second half but Hitchin seemed to struggle to get the ball in the net. Eventually it that man once again who came up trumps with the winner. A solid performance from the team and we won.

Congratulations to the prediction winners:

Swallow, Killer Canaries, Froggy FC, Away with the Fairies, Ever the Optimist, Visa Charges, Hope Springs Eternal, Pipeman, Roman Virgin, 2 Up Front, Bert, Rupert Russell, Spanner in the Works, Marek, Steve H, Get out the Goal and Roger in Kent.

[Stevenage Canary]

Evening all.
I was pretty scathing in my last assessment of things but wanted to say well done today for the lads and a gutsy comeback win.
I thought the football was really positive throughout and very pleasing on the eye. Lacked a bit of a killer instinct but in fairness the Welwyn keeper had a great game.
Other than the goal we defended very well. I was previously critical of Kane but he had an outstanding game today. More physical in defence and a dangerous outlet going forward. Midfield was sharp and Nicholson is a great addition. I do think we could do with a midfield enforcer in away games.
I felt the first touch all over the pitch was on point today and we got plenty of balls into the box. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great crowd, brilliant second half atmosphere in the stand. Great repertoire of songs. Well done for some of those lyrics. Great to see MJ giving it the fist pumps at the end and high fives with the fans.
I am enthused. However a real acid test on Monday away to the league leaders. Battered by them in the cup recently. Beat them this time though and that would be a real statement win. Well done everyone for today. I took a mate for the first time and he loved it.

[Brian Parker]

This was an OK performance against a combative opponent. They didn't pack their defence as other visitors have tended to do which allowed us to play more openly, yet once again we found it difficult to convert our chances. So I was disappointed that Diego Freitas-Gouveia went unused as a substitute. We know from his previous time here that he can score goals and very often good ones at that. So it is important that we get him up to match fitness as soon as possible. With WGC a goal behind and down to ten men they were open to counter attacks so giving him 15 minutes could have proven beneficial in both this game and in those that are coming up.

We now have three consecutive away games two of which are against top free scoring teams, so we are going to have to become more efficient at converting our chances. May be not in the next one but in those that follow Diego might be the men to make the difference.