Bees Buzz On Top Field

Hitchin Town 0-3 Barnet (Friendly)

Back in the day, July 1st meant back to pre-season, after putting the pounds on from your lad weekends in Ayia Napa & Magaluf, you were expected to be in pretty bad shape all hungover but bronzed “bring trainers only” was usually the cry for the return to training, but not these days, the era of fitness fanatics and football throughout the calendar year, clubs have been back two or three weeks already, and with that a game already, to embrace, as I cut into my cricketing campaign to spectate, a match between Hitchin Town and Barnet, a pre-season friendly that pits Southern League Central hosts, against newly promoted Football League 2 opposition.

It's my first trip to Top Field, yesterday I was watching England U19’s play India in the cricket, tomorrow I’ll be doing the same, but today, I’m back doing what I love most, the iconic smell and feel of football in the summer months is different, the air of anticipation sky high ahead of a new long season ahead.

I googled “What is Hitchin famous for” and my AI response was Hitchin Market, Hitchin Lavender, Musician James Bay, Footballers Kevin Phillips and Jack Wilshere were born here, whilst several episodes of Dr Who have been filmed in the town. Not much else has ever happened in this Hertfordshire home of just over 35,000.

On the pitch, Hitchin have spent most of their history in the Isthmian League, but have been in the Southern League since 2004 and have been in the Premier Central Division since 2018, their best performance in the FA Cup is twice reaching the second round whilst famous players include Dave Kitson, Jimmy Holmes, Don Martin, Reg Smith, and former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Gleeson who is currently their star attraction.

The Venue

I arrive early, already whetting myself with anticipation for my first game of the summer, so park up on Lancaster Avenue, around the corner from the ground, before walking over to the Angels Pub, where I go for a wee, I'm all for a pre-match drink and a seat in the sun too but decide not to order a pint, after being annoyed by the queuing system of mothers single file lined up taking time to order food for their wild uncontrollable kids (If they queued normally, i.e. at the bar, and didn't have kids, I would have stayed).

Instead, I went for a walk in the evening sunshine, across the Fishponds Road is an outdoor swimming pool which looked busy full of youngsters on their way out, on a humid day where a dip would be much obliged for all enjoying the fine weather.

Sweaty and sticky myself, I entered the Canary Club at the ground, a real friendly buzz of locals sitting in and outside before the game, I was told to walk back around to the clubs turnstiles where I scanned my ticket on entrance, and inside I felt wowed by the spacious but stunning old venue, back lined by trees.

Quirky curved stands behind one goal, open terracing giving a great elevated view opposite, a green roofed seating area to my left. A wooden floored number to my right, a bit of every delight for nonleague nerds like myself, good vantage points, good character, the sun beaming down, as I walk around the perimeter, a low mesh fence separates the pitch, which is large and wide, slightly humped in the middle.

The Game

I grabbed a team sheet from the club shop at a cost of 20p before standing up in the sunshine alone, behind the dugouts in the wooden posted stands, both teams playing completely different elevens over each half, with both starting strong, Barnet including the likes of Hartigan, Collinge, Glover, Kanu, it’s no surprise in their purple and white away strip, Dean Brennan’s side start strong.

Fast tempo, the Football League newcomers are on the front foot, and take the lead early on, when new signing Galvin is played through, his cross shot finds Rhys Browne who taps in from close range.

In fairness to Hitchin, they break well, one and two touch in attack, they look to play quickly and are direct in possession, but are too small and slender for Barnet, who’s bigger men, ball playing, are having fun, even Goalkeeper Evans is dropping shoulders as he frequently hovers outside his box looking to take on attackers.

The Score

On 20 minutes Rhys Browne makes it two, he dances into the area and wins a penalty before dispatching it with ease past the stone cold keeper Kamara standing still, and then on 26, Adam Senior, who’s lively on the left side of defence, he’s ventured forward and into the box, heading home from a Kanu cross, a debut goal after a summer move from Halifax.

It’s a little harsh on Hitchin as I don’t think they play badly, Barnet just clinical at the other end, although in Anthony Hartigan, they have a midfielder spraying the ball with swagger, in Ryan Glover, they have an exciting talented footballer who takes players on, he runs through the whole defence at one point but blazes high and wide when he just had the keeper to beat.

In the second half there’s wholesale changes with both elevens completely different, and although the tempo is high, the quality diminished slightly, Barnet’s best attacks coming down the right, where young Bright Siaw is as his name, very bright indeed, but he’s well marshalled by left back Callum Kane who looks a cracking little player, they both have a good battle offering speed and tenacity, are both tigerish with good quality and desire.

A couple of chances at either end, Barnet’s trialist goalkeeper is forced into action with a brilliant save from a long range effort, Barnet buzz with a couple of near misses themselves, but in the end it’s a good workout for all involved, Hitchin hold credit from competing against a team four levels above, the Bees doing the business in the first half, when they looked very professional indeed.

The Stars

I was impressed most by the attitude of Barnet, professional from the off, they look like a team, together, buoyed by promotion, excited by the new season, a team who just want to get out and win football matches.

In defence, Danny Collinge sprayed balls right to left, Adam Senior looked comfortable on the left of three, in midfield Anthony Hartigan ticked things along, he’s a player I remember struggling at Mansfield Town, but is one who seems to be the vital cog of Barnet’s centrepiece, out left Ryan Galvin is positive and direct, on the right Idris Kanu persistent, tricky, the best player in possession is however Ryan Glover, who’s a very likeable footballer to watch, whilst watch out for Bright Siaw who signed his first professional contract at the end of last season. He has pace to burn and is a tricky right winger.

For Hitchin, they had moments in attack, which caused Barnet problems, I liked the stocky striker Liam Brooks who put himself about a bit with good feet, whilst off the bench, twenty-year-old left back Callum Kane was exceptional and carried the ball forward whilst being tenacious in the tackle, whilst similarly aged Plamedi Bomolo also did well up front during the second half, he looks to have some exciting factors to his game.

The Verdict

A good run out, a pleasant crowd in the sun of just under 600, and a great ground is Top Field, a nostalgic quaint southern English non-league football home, what better way to start 2025/26.

The Teams

Hitchin Town: Tyrese Kamara (Josh Jackman 46), Lewis Franklin (Josh Bowler 46), Kye Tearle (Callum Kane 46), Josh Coldicott-Stevens (Kieron Forbes 66), Charlie Briggs (Trialist 46), Blue Joy (Lewis Barker 46), Will McNeill (Trialist 46), Stephen Gleeson (Trialist 46), Taylor Rhiney (Trialist 46), Liam Brooks (Plamedi Bomolo 46), Charlie McDonald (Trialist 46).

Barnet: Owen Evans (Trialist 46), Danny Collinge (Joe Rye 46), Nik Tavares (Ollie Kensdale 46), Adam Senior (Trialist 46), Anthony Hartigan (Romoney Crichlow 46), Scott High (Mark Shelton 46), Zak Brunt (Rohat Matyar 46), Ryan Glover (Emmanuel Osadebe 46), Idris Kanu (Pat Matesko 46), Rhys Browne (Oliver Hawkins 46), Ryan Galvin (Bright Siaw 46).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 1st July 2025, Top Field, Hitchin (att 590).