Hitchin 1, Bedworth United 1

[dutchman]

BEDWORTH United face promotion-chasing Stourbridge at the Oval tomorrow (kick-off 7.45pm) revitalised by confidence boosting results from two relegation battles in three days.

The Greenbacks returned with another precious point from an impressive 1-1 draw at Hitchin Town on Monday after a vital 3-1 win at Frome on Saturday.

Now their hopes are high of completing a prize double over second-in-the-table Stourbridge who they defeated 1-0 at Amblecote last November.

Steve Farmer’s unchanged team were denied victory over Hitchin only by the predatory ability of the Southern League’s hottest striker John Frendo.

Frendo pounced to notch a cruel equaliser with just eight minutes left after the Greenbacks led for almost an hour.

The 27-year-old striker’s goal took his tally for the season to an incredible 39 -29 in the league - a remarkable number for a side struggling to avoid the drop.

The Greenbacks had shaken the Hertfordshire side by snatching the lead in the 29th minute through big Tom Lorraine.

Lorraine was in the right place to score his fourth goal of the season after neither side created much in the early exchanges.

Hitchin, beaten only once in their previous five games, became frustrated against a Bedworth side refreshingly showing a collective team spirit.

Andy Gooding underlined their commitment to the cause by carrying on regardless despite receiving a head injury that bled throughout the second-half.

GREENBACKS: Kemp, Dean, Haines, Gooding, Tullin, Bains, Cain, Bates, Piggon (Blenkinsopp, 83), Lorraine, Wesley. Substitutes not used: Thackeray, Hutchcox, Cooper.

Attendance: 248.