Church score four goals in a game for only the second time this season, and as many as they had scored in the previous eight as they ended a winless run stretching back to the 11th March.

In reality, 50 points was probably always going to be enough to beat the drop, but 53 is mathematical safety as Church's win. coupled with Redditch's loss confirms what will probably be a mid-table finish after a topsy-turvy season.

The game began with a mis-kick from Church keeper Ronnie Hollingshead that gifted possession to Hutchinson, but the Hitchin front man could only curl the loose ball into the keeper's hands as he recovered his position well to avert the danger.
It was an early warning, but it did not signal the start of any real jeopardy, as the home side quickly asserted control.

On 13 minutes a good break from Church started after Onabirekhanien won the ball well in the centre circle, feeding Sullivan. who pressed towards the edge of the Hitchin box. The midfielder deftly brought Willis into play, and the latter steered the ball just wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Church are pressing, and Hitchin are increasingly struggling to clear their lines and gain a foothold in the game. And it is a mistake on 16 minutes that gives Church the lead. Hitchin give the ball away cheaply in the defensive third, and the ball is threaded to Sullivan, who after getting the ball out of his feet steers it in from the edge of the box to register the opening goal.

It is 2-0 seven minutes later after a great fluid move up the left flank, and after the ball is driven into the heart of the area by Howell, Wakefield is on hand, unmarked, to open his body to divert the ball past keeper Stacey and into the back of the net.

The lead is no more than Church deserve for their dominance.

Church are moving the ball forward quickly now, and Onabirekhanien almost capitalises soon after when he sweeps the ball towards goal from 25 yards, seeing his first time effort arrow just over the Hitchin bar.

Pressure again on 25 minutes after Sullivan robs Heaps thirty yards out, and going for goal he sees his shot curl just wide.

It's good stuff from Church, and it seems a matter of when not if they will add to the scoreline, as Hitching shoot themselves in the foot again two minutes later as McNeill concedes a foul on the edge of the box, from which Dyer fires the free kick just off target.

Despite Church's dominance, Hitching survive any further setback, and begin a brief spell of play in which they grow a little into the game. A 20 yard free kick on 36 minutes is their first threat since that second minute Hollingshead mis-kick, but the effort is just wide.
And they get some reward on 41 minutes after good interplay in a move down the Church left involving Hutchinson and Franklin, Franklin is rewarded with a clear sight of goal, and he dinks the ball over Hollingshead from close in to finish off the defence splitting move.

It's a brief respite for the visitors. Just a minute later Wakefield is blocked on the edge of the box, and the Sullivan free kick is delivered on target, but Stacey is well positioned to deal with the danger. And then in stoppage time, the two goal lead is restored as Hitchin try to defend a corner, and as the ball is repelled to the edge of the box Wakefield drives a shot on target, Stacey beats the shot out, but only to the feet of Crowther who returns the ball into the Hitchin net for 3-1.

Bad became worse for Hitchin seven minutes into the second half when Titchmarsh was red carded after a high tackle on Sam Perry.
Church should have bagged a fourth on the hour mark when Onabirekhanien drove the ball across the face of the Hitchin goal to find Howell at the far post, unmarked, a few yards out, but the latter's touch was amiss and the ball squirmed away to safety rather than being diverted into the visitors' net.

The fourth goal did finally arrive after 73 minutes when after the ball was threaded through to Willis, the midfielder's attempted cross was blocked by a Hitchin arm,and the referee pointed to the spot.
Kieran Wakefield duly converted the penalty to complete the scoring, and dispatching Hitchin to their 22nd defeat of the season, and complete a run of ten games without a win.