Truro City 3 Hitchin Town 0

There were few redeeming features in Hitchin's 3-0 loss to Truro. It was undoubtedly their worst performance of the season and the scoreline in no way flattered Truro as Hitchin failed to produce one save from keeper Kyle Moore. The whole performance lacked the usual energy and commitment and it seemed the whole side had an off day to make the 615 mile round trip seem even longer. Hitchin played a 4-2-3-1 formation with Garry Jones and Sam Barker the holding midfielders behing Jonny McNamara, Matt Lench and Gary Wharton with Brett Donnelly the lone striker. But they never really got going as Truro dominated the early proceedings. Michael Johnson had already made a good save from Cody Cooke before Truro took the lead after 13 minutes when Shane White scored from close range. Veteran Barry Hayles was proving a handful as he used his experience to good effect and the Hitchin defence did not look comfortable. Rob Farkins added a second after 24 minutes with an unchallenged header from a corner while Cooke was always dangerous and seemed to win most headers and came close on another couple of occasions. A Donnelly effort that went wide was Hitchin's only response. Wharton was replaced by Michael King due to injury before half time and in the closing stages of the half Hitchin improved but in the second half a revival never really seemed likely despite Charlie Smith and Robbie Burns being introduced. Ben Watson hit the post after 76 minutes and Donnelly headed just wide soon after. Truro were comfortable and finished things off in injury time when Isaac Vassell completed the scoring from close range. While Hitchin had more of the play in the second half they were never threatening and this performance will have to be quickly forgotten and improved upon with Chesham and the F A Cup on the horizon. This was just not the Hitchin that had started the season so well and manager Mark Burke made no excuses. Let us hope this was just a temporary blip. Teams Hitchin Johnson, Rolfe, Walster, Ann, Corran, Jones, McNamara Barker, Donnelly, Lench, Wharton Subs Smith for Jones 73, Chabata, King for Wharton 34, Burns for McNamara 73, Webb Truro Moore, White, Long, Duff, Farkins, Pugh, Green, Lowry, Hayles, Cooke, Vassell Subs Watson for Hayles 57, Afful, Tully, James for Long 81, Brett for Duff 71 Bookings Hitchin Lench and Ann Truro None Attendance 448 Roy Izzard http://www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/reports/2014_15/TruroCityASLP.shtml