Jennings adds finishing touch (21.02.04)

THE Magpies scraped home on Saturday against a poor Hitchin side in a match they should have won by a distance.
In the first half in particular they ran their lightweight and directionless visitors ragged and could have had the points in the bag before their half-time cuppa.
However they could not find their finishing touch and so the result of their encounter was in doubt until the end.
However with Hitching producing little, it allowed some of the Magpies players to shine on a bitterly cold day.
The central pairing of the two Andys – Jennings and Dugdale – looked solid, while Brendan Gallen, debutant Dean Cracknell and Lawrence Yaku all caught the eye.
With the Magpies starting on the front foot, it was no surprise when they took the lead on 10 minutes when a Gallen free-kick was allowed to bounce in the area and Yaku got in front of his markers to nod the ball just inside the near post.
Despite three one-on-ones with the keeper – two falling to Mark Boyce – the Magpies could not add to their score.
Joe Flack hit the post, Yaku was felled in the area but the ref ignored the Magpies pleas, and Phil Gray saw an effort clip the top of the bar before the visitors scored against the run of play through Darran Hay on 69 minutes.
Fortunately the Magpies held their nerve and after a concerted period of pressure a half-hearted punch from the Hitchin keeper on 78 minutes fell to Jennings on the edge of the box.
He innocently volleyed the ball back into the danger area only to see his effort sail over everyone and into the goal and surprising and welcome winner.