Bromsgrove Sporting 0
Hitchin Town 2 (A. Marsh 45+1', Stead 75')
Goals from Alex Marsh and Callum Stead guided Hitchin Town to victory over Bromsgrove Sporting at the Victoria Ground.
The opener came on the stroke of half time, as Marsh took the ball around keeper Daniel Platt and into an empty net. The second was created by a scuffed Lewis Barker shot, which fell into the path of Stead, who headed home after his initial shot was saved.
Sporting started the game relatively brightly, with Luke Ward and Jason Cowley both recording shots on target.
Up the other end, Hitchin's Barker had a couple of good opportunities but was unable to convert.
Stead and Luke Brown both had shots superbly saved by Platt but the visitors eventually get onto the scoresheet in the opening minute of first half additional time, as Marsh willfully took the ball around keeper and knocked home into an open goal.
Bromsgrove's Jack Wilson dragged a good chance wide with his right foot early in the second half, whilst Mikey Taylor had a brace of one-on-one chances saved by Hitchin stopper Charlie Horlock.
The 68th minute saw Stead have a speculative effort easily saved by Platt but, seven minutes later, he would have his goal.
Barker's attempted effort found its way to Stead - his first shot was kept out by Platt but his second bite of the cherry saw him head in from no more than a yard out. |