Having lost heavily to Hutton in the League Challenge Trophy last time out, Hoddesdon were looking for retribution against one of the in form sides in the league and they did not disappoint.

This was a game of very few clear-cut chances where both defences excelled. The draw extended the Lilywhites’ unbeaten league run to six games and lifted their visitors, Hutton, up into second place in the league.

Hutton are a physically strong and well-organised side and it was clear from the start of the game that the Lilywhites were going to have to be strong in the aerial battles and would have to match them for their physicality if they were going to take anything from the game.

Lilywhites’ manager, Simon Riddle, would have liked to have fielded the side that won so well at Cannons Wood on the previous Saturday, but was forced into one change when keeper, Liam Nugent, declared himself unfit and Ethen Gannon was called up in his place. As he invariably does, Ethen was up to the challenge and had a very good game. One save, in particular, stood out when he launched himself to tip an excellent 25-yard free-kick, over the bar.

This was as close as the visitors were going to come to scoring and it would be fair to say that, of the few chances there were in the game, the better ones fell to the Lilywhites. Kyle Roberts was thwarted by the keeper on two occasions in the first half but the best chance fell to Dion Laughton in the closing minutes of the game when he mis-kicked from five yards following confusion resulting from a Connor Bolton free-kick.

On balance, a draw was probably a fair result and one which seemed to satisfy both teams.

Man-of-the Match: Jack Riddle.

Team: Ethan Gannon, Nazrii Krutko, Hadley Richards (Syd Barker 85’), Jack Riddle, Jack Gibbs, Bailey Eden (George Smith 62’), Conor Casey (Harrison Cage 62’), Blue Gallagher, Kyle Roberts (Dion Laughton 62’), George Rankin (Callum Bennison 78’) & Conor Bolton.

Unused subs: Jimmy Agnew & Arnis Lala.