Hitchin Athletic 2–0 Jesmond AFC: the draw cycle breaks

Look, I reckon when Elías Balaguer rose to meet Olivier Bachelard's delivery on 15 minutes and put Hitchin ahead, the reaction was probably more a wary nod than a roar. This is a side that has preferred protecting a point over chasing a lead. And Balaguer, who had limped off against Jesmond in the earlier meeting on 12 August, had a small score to settle. He did it with his head.

The second goal on 36 minutes settled it. Bachelard, provider for the first, got on the end of Célio Mascarenhas's cross and glanced it in. Honestly, watching the game, you wondered if Jesmond had any idea what to do next. They were 12th before kick-off but playing like a side that had misplaced its confidence. Hitchin, 16th, just looked tidier.

The second half was mostly Jesmond keeping the ball in areas that didn't hurt. There was a disallowed effort late on, but it felt like a formality. No red cards, no drama, just two headers and a team rediscovering what a win feels like.

Actually, let me change that: they didn't just rediscover it, they clung to it. Hitchin have finally turned a draw into a win, and they'll fancy their chances of doing it again tomorrow, when Matchday 38 comes around. For Jesmond, tomorrow might come too soon. That is probably for the best.