Our quest for silverware came to an end on Wednesday night, bowing out of the Herts Senior cup in front of 160 spectators at Rowley Lane. Our largest crowd of the season so far. The atmosphere had began to build up an hour or so before kick-off with our Ultras accompanied by flags and drum gathered behind the far goal whilst our dozen young mascots eagerly awaited sight of their newly found idols.

Zak Jackson, Solly Jacobs, Daniel Creese & Mikey Perkins all returned to the starting line-up with Zan Appleson-Fidler dropping to the bench.

Lions started the game brightly and dominated the early stages of the game but neither side created much in the way of chances. As the game approached the halfway point of the first 45, Lions were awarded a corner after a long range shot from Ben Barnett's was deflected wide of the post. Max Davis's corner found Mikey Perkins who headed home to give Lions the lead.

Seven minutes later the visitors were back on level terms when a sweeping ball over the top of the Lions defence allowed Freitas-Gouveia to unleash a shot past keeper Nathan Bloohn. Hitchin should have taken the lead just minutes later when Freitas-Gouveia failed to convert a ball played across the six yard box and fired wide from close range.

Lions grew in strength in the second half but there was little to talk about in the way of chances and neither keeper was really forced into a save. In the 76th minute substitute Appleson-Fidler found himself through on goal and looking certain to score, only to be denied by a last ditch tackle by the Hitchin centre back.

With the game reaching the closing stages and the home fans thinking of the prospect of a penalty shoot out, Hitchin were awarded a rather harsh free-kick for handball just out the Lions penalty area, when the ball bounced up and hit Max Kyte on the hand. A cleverly worked free-kick caught out the Lions defence enabling Elliott Philips to score at the back post. For the second semi-final running Lions could consider themselves hard done by a decision. With seven minutes of normal time remaining Hitchin had the lead.

Lions pushed for an equaliser but couldn't find a way through and it was the visitors who were headed to the Herts Senior Cup Final.

Lions can be extremely proud of the performance against a Hitchin strong side and although it was a huge shame to fall at the final hurdle the team can be proud of the journey they have been on.

Starting XI: Bloohn, Perkins, Weinberger (C), Shack, Kyte, B. Bellman, Creese, Barnett, Davis, Jacobs, Jackson
Subs: Burchell, Appleson-Fidler, J. Bellman, Simmons, Smith