"Bucks aiming to extend five-game unbeaten run"

Match Date : December 28th, 2024 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1NU
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks will make an all but immediate return to action tomorrow, with a trip to Hertfordshire to take on struggling Hitchin Town.

The Canaries made a strong start to the last campaign and were in the playoff places when they visited the New Bucks Head in November 2023. But the Hertfordshire side’s season took a nosedive from there, as they lost 18 of their final 23 games and finished in 19th place. Hitchin were reprieved from relegation, however, after Coalville Town ceased operating.

With Hitchin unexpectedly tumbling into a relegation battle last season, manager Mark Burke resigned at the start of March having been in charge at Top Field for 11 years. Another former stalwart, Brett Donnelly, then took the reins in the Hitchin dugout. In fact, Donnelly’s first game in charge of the Canaries was the 1-1 draw with Bucks at Top Field at the end of March. However, after a slow start to the season, Hitchin dispensed with Donnelly services at the end of October.

The man now in the Hitchin dugout is Michael Jones, who previously served as head of academy and then first team coach under Burke. Jones had stints as a coach with Watford and Burnley before he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer aged just 22. But after successful treatment, Jones returned to coaching with spells as an assistant at Harpenden Town and manager of Bedford (now Real Bedford) before making the switch to Top Field.

Hitchin are currently second bottom with 16 points from 21 games, although half of those points have come from Jones’ eight games in charge. However, while the Canaries picked up seven points from Jones’ first three games at the helm, one point from the next five games appears to have curtailed any suggestion of a new manager bounce.

Rio Deall has been the standout performer for Hitchin this season, while Henry Snee has bagged three goals in the eight games since Jones took charge. The Canaries’ squad also features twin brothers Daniel and Luke Stokoe.

The sides played out two draws last season, but Kevin Wilkin’s men ran out 5-4 winners in a chaotic game at the SEAH Stadium earlier this season. And the Bucks have one of the division’s best away records, while Hitchin have the second-worst home record. With the Bucks looking to come out of the congested festive period in good shape, Kevin Wilkin will no doubt be aiming for three more important points this Saturday.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

You can purchase tickets in advance via the Hitchin website.

Website: www.hitchintownfc.club

Ground Address: Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1NU