Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay, Wednesday 20th August
It was a trip over to Tilbury and Chadfields for my latest football fix, and it was an FA Cup replay between Grays Athletic & Hitchin Town to see who would travel to Potters Bar Town in the First Qualfiying Round, the sides played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday with Hitchin netting a 95th minute leveller to earn this second chance at progression, for more detail on that and the two sides involved in this one, visit https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/08/hitchin-town-1-grays-athletic-1.html for my blog on the original tie.
As said Grays were seconds away from winning that tie at Hitchin's Top Field ground, but they would have to go again in this tie and try and see off a Hitchin outfit who were just glad to have a second bite at the cherry after they were seemingly heading out at the weekend until the last twist in that one.
Grays had started that tie well, they didn't start this one well though and found themselves a goal behind after just seven minutes, a lapse in concertation allowed a ball to be played into the path of Mbunya Alemanji and with hosts keeper George way off his line, the visiting striker sent the ball over his head and perfectly into the net, a great start for the visitors then and Grays now had to find a solution to get back into this contest if they wanted to carry on their FA Cup run for this season.
Hitchin though looked the likelier to net again, and they should of done when a close range header was brilliantly tipped over by Marsh, but once Grays settled, it took them the best part of twenty five minutes or so, they began to get a foothold in the contest, and Callum Fitzer, the man who volleyed Grays ahead in the original tie, almost levelled but saw his left footed effort well saved by Josh Bowler in the visiting goal.
Alemanji could and should have grabbed a second for himself and the visitors when he headed over from a decent position, but the game was still well in the balance at the break with Hitchin holding that slender advantage courtesy of that early goal from their number ten, all to play for you could say.
The second half certainly belonged to the hosts, they applied most of the pressure in the second period but despite this their keeper Bowler had very little to do in terms of saves as Grays could just not muster many attempts on goal, their were two scrambles inside the penalty area that would just not fall the way of a hosts boot, and another attack saw Sam Bantick's superb ball in just invade players coming in, although they didn't really attack the cross, much to the crossers dismay.
Whatever Grays tried just did not work, Hitchin were just happy to clear their lines and defend what was in front of them, and they remained solid and resolute throughout, they were a danger on the counter but they rarely threatened in the second period if truth be told, and it was the hosts who were as said applying most of the pressure.
Seven minutes of stoppage were added on at the end, could Grays do what Hitchin had done on Saturday and level late late on and force extra time, well Bowler had to help an effort over the bar but despite this moment there wasn't really any other close calls for Hitchin who defended anything that came into the box, and after several tense moments they held on to net a very hard fought win, and progress through to the First Qualifying Round.
Tough for Grays this one, they so nearly won the first tie and deserved something from this one too, but that's football and well done to Hitchin who battled well in the two games to earn their place in the next round, they will take on Isthmian Premier Potters Bar Town away from home on the last weekend in August, and with Potters Bar not starting their season too well, Hitchin will fancy beating their Step Three opponents perhaps, who knows.
Full time Grays Athletic 0 Hitchin Town 1
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