Hitchin Town round-up by NEIL JENSEN For the second season running, Bedford Town trounced and humiliated Hitchin in front of their own crowd. And just like last season, the Eagles won 4-1 at Top Field. The Canaries have hit a rough patch in the final week

Hitchin Town round-up by

NEIL JENSEN

For the second season running, Bedford Town trounced and humiliated Hitchin in front of their own crowd.

And just like last season, the Eagles won 4-1 at Top Field.

The Canaries have hit a rough patch in the final weeks of the season but thankfully, they are not in danger of relegation.

But with the Errea Cup final second leg on the horizon, the need to get back to winning ways is vital for Darren Salton's team.

They had a setback after 135 seconds in this local derby on Easter Monday, Chris Dillon stooping to head home from Craig Rydeheard's free-kick.

But less than two minutes later, Hitchin could have drawn level. Gavin Jaggard was held back by Gavin Hoyte but Daniel French missed the resulting penalty kick.

French and Stuart Lochhead both had chances to equalise in the first half but neither seriously tested goalkeeper Ian Brown.

Bedford extended their lead in the 47th minute when former Hitchin winger Carl Williams sent a cross-shot just underneath Richard Wilmot's bar.

Within a minute, a volley by Hitchin midfielder David Deeney sailed just wide of Brown's goal.

Bedford scored again in the 51st minute when Rene Howe capitalised on a header back to Wilmot by Aaran Cavill and slotted the ball into the net.

Three minutes later, Jaggard's volley bounced off the post and into the net off Brown to drag Hitchin back into the game.

Defensive errors gave Bedford a fourth goal, however.

Wilmot strayed too far out of goal and Howe, at the second attempt, scored from a tight angle.

That more or less killed the game and Bedford could afford the luxury of taking off their most effective players. Lochhead did have one good chance but Brown was equal to it.

Canaries: Wilmot, Ayres, Hammonds, Folds, Deeney, Cavill, Lochhead, Mills, Jaggard (Hayes 88), French, Lamacraft.

A typical end-of-season game was the best way to describe Saturday's dull goalless draw at Chesham.

The home side, desperately clinging to Southern League Premier survival, may not have have gained much satisfaction from this game but neither will have Hitchin.

Deprived of leading scorer Josh Sozzo, Hitchin opted for a front-line partnership of Jaggard and Thomas Hayes.

The latter went close in the sixth minute and had a chance later on, but by half-time it was clear that this was not going to be a classic encounter.

Hitchin opened the second half as if they meant business and Chesham goalkeeper Alex Lawler pulled off a superb save from midfielder Cavill.

Chesham thought they had netted the winner eight minutes from time but Steve Slade's effort was ruled out for offside.

And just before the final whistle, their controversial defender Michael Harvey was dismissed for bringing down Wayne Mills.

Canaries: Wilmot, Lochhead, Ducket (Hicks 7), Hammonds, Folds, Lamacraft, Cavill, Deeney, Jaggard (Phelan 64), Hayes (W Mills 48), French.