Hitchin Town 2 Maidenhead United 1 MARCUS CRAWLEY reports Teenager Scott Orphanou worked his magic again to seal the three points at Top Field on Tuesday night. Orphanou s stunning volley – the second one of the match from a Hitchin player – came just fou

Hitchin Town 2 Maidenhead United 1

MARCUS CRAWLEY reports

Teenager Scott Orphanou worked his magic again to seal the three points at Top Field on Tuesday night.

Orphanou's stunning volley - the second one of the match from a Hitchin player - came just four minutes after entering the fray and continued his happy knack of being in the right place at the right time.

His 86th minute winner ensured a good result on what had been a frustrating night for the Canaries who were still on a high after Saturday's win at the then league leaders Bath City.

Visitors Maidenhead included three players with Stevenage Boro connections - former prodigy Errol Telemaque, this season's stand-in midfielder Dwane Lee and loanee Sam Hatton.

Hitchin were first out of the blocks and Chris Dillon and Rob Miller both tried spectacular efforts without success.

Hatton also tried his luck from distance before the match settled down into a midfield battle for the next 10 minutes.

The opening goal came out of the blue as Darthanual Brown was first to a through ball but was stopped in his tracks by keeper Rob Beckwith.

The keeper, who did not protest, was cautioned and Lee exacted the ultimate punishment from the penalty spot.

With the play generally scrappy the ref decided to join the pantomime season by pulling a muscle.

After two stoppages, he decided he could not continue and a call was put out for a further assistant referee to help run the line.

The game was held up for more than 10 minutes and when play eventually restarted, Craig O'Connor's shot was well held by Beckwith before time was called 65 minutes after the first whistle was blown!

Darren Salton replaced Lance Gentle-King with Mark Ducket at the break and the move immediately paid off.

Ducket received the ball from a Ryan Frater free-kick and his cross was eventually volleyed home by the big defender four minutes into the new half.

David Deeney and Frater again threatened before goalmouth action became at a premium once more.

Ducket's delivery from the left was a feature of the half although he was lucky to escape with a lunge at Maidenhead sub Stephen Hughes in the penalty area 12 minutes from time.

The frantic nature of the match looked likely to ensure parity and a point apiece until the intervention of Orphanou who displayed great technique to volley home.

Rokermen: Beckwith, Frater, Gentle-King (Ducket 46m), Hammonds, Folds, Deeney, Williams, Miller, Dillon, Sozzo (Orphanou 82m), Jaggard (Mills 90m).

n The high-flying Canaries, now up to third again in the BGB Premier, have another home match this Saturday with the visit of Gloucester City to Top Field.