Stepney FC 3–2 Hitchin Athletic: Fortesque finds his voice

Match report

Stepney 3, Hitchin 2, and the name on the teamsheet was Arthur Fortesque, a man who had been doing his best impression of a mute since early August. His recent output was one goal in nine days, which for a forward is less a drought and more a polite famine. Stepney had gone off the boil: Hitchin had gone off a cliff. The 0-0 earlier in the season suggested a patient, tedious afternoon. Fortesque had other plans.

He scored on 5 minutes, a simple prod after open play had pried Hitchin open. The 30th was better: Cassiano Avelar-Toledo doing the tidy threading before the finish. And on the stroke of half-time, Rudolf Buchholz delivered a cross that found the man again. Three goals, 45 minutes, and the away dressing room suddenly had a lot of philosophy to consider. A 3-0 lead at the break against the 17th-placed side should make a manager's notes write themselves. Stepney's manager probably wrote one word: phew.

Then the game remembered it was a game. Olivier Bachelard, who had scored on 14 August against Marlborough, pulled one back on 68 minutes with Arthur Trent's assist. A goal of genuine quality, the sort that makes you suspect Stepney's early dominance was style over substance. Teodoro Larrañaga then stepped up for a free kick on 75, Xavier Castaño teeing him up, and 3-2 suddenly felt like 3-3 in waiting.

Stepney held on, which is the kindest thing you can say about them. Hitchin had the ball, the pressure and the late urgency that only arrives once the damage is done. Their reward is another narrow defeat and a further slide down the table.

In fairness, Fortesque was the best individual on the pitch in the first half. The second half belonged to Hitchin, so the 90-minute breakdown lands somewhere between a purring winger and a panic attack. Stepney take the points, but the notes will be uncomfortable to read back.

Saturday 15 August 2026 brings Matchday 21 to a close, and both sides do it all over again with a full day's rest and a fresh list of excuses. Stepney will hope Fortesque didn't spend his quota in one sitting. Hitchin will hope someone, anyone, can finish what Bachelard starts.