For the second game running Hemel fans were left frustrated as the visitors “parked the bus” and came away with a point at Vauxhall Road.
In front of another large crowd the Tudors “Huffed and Puffed” for much of the game but were unable to find a way past Tahj Bell in the Hitchin goal.
Ben Mackey had an early effort saved as was a freekick by Jordan parkes. On the half hour, Tudors Kyle Connolly made a break into the penalty area and got a shot away but it was superbly blocked by a defender and deflected away for a corner which came to nothing and that was pretty much it as far as goalscoring chances went in the first period other than Hitchin’s first shot of the game on 40 minutes that was easily saved by Laurie Walker.
Hemel changed things in the second half with Lewis Toomey and Dave Pearce coming on but they still couldn't find any way past a resolute Hitchin defence.
Hemel created a couple decent openings late on with Mackey, Parkes and Toomey all going close but in the end another disappointing result for the league leaders and with Chesham winning again the gap closes to five points with Chesham having a game in hand.
Bank Holiday Monday’s game at Vauxhall Road looks more and more as though it could be a Championship decider.
Hemel : 1 Laurie Walker 2: Dave King (Dave hutton) 3: Kyle Connolly 4 : Jordan parkes (C) 5 Kierain Murphy 6: Moussa Diarra 7 : Danny Talbot 8 : Luke Allen 9 : Jake Gilbert (Dave Pearce) 10 : Ben Mackey 11: Ollie Thorne (Lewis Toomey) Subs not used Danny May and Alex Tokarczyk.
Hitchin Town : 1 Tahj Bell 2 :Lewis Rolfe 3: Josh Biggerstaff 4: Alasan Ann 5: Dan Webb 6: Stuart Pearson 7: Charlie Smith 8: Callum Donnelly (Gary Jones) 9: Simon Martin (Shaun Okajie) 10 : Michael King (Sam Burke) 11: Matt Lench.
Man of the match Alasan Ann (Hitchin) Kieran Murphy (Hemel)
Attendance 775
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Hemel Hempstead Town | 44 | 102 |
2. | Chesham United | 44 | 92 |
3. | Cambridge City | 44 | 88 |
4. | St Albans City | 44 | 85 |
5. | Stourbridge | 44 | 84 |
6. | Hungerford Town | 44 | 84 |
7. | Poole Town | 44 | 82 |