SOHAM’S start to 2011 was a decidedly miserable one as they were thumped by runaway league leaders Hitchin Town.

Hitchin Town 9

Soham Town Rangers 1

SOHAM’S start to 2011 was a decidedly miserable one as they were thumped by runaway league leaders Hitchin Town.

Hitchin’s Zak Burke was the standout performer bagging four goals in a 24-minute spell, while Soham had only a Dubi Ogbonna strike to show for their efforts on a woeful afternoon.

The win sent Hitchin 13 points clear at the top of the Zamaretto Central Division while Ian Bejamin’s men slipped to the bottom of the league.

Tony Fontenelle put Hitchin ahead in the 15th minute but despite the setback, Soham settled and took the game to the home side, Luke Hipwell firing narrowly over from the edge of the area while Declan Rogers saw his effort blocked.

The home side doubled their lead six minutes before the interval as John Frendo netted and matter soon worsened for the Greens as Andy Coleman was sent-off for foul and abusive language.

Michael Simpson almost pulled a goal back for the visitors shortly before the score was stretched to 3-0 by Burke.

Ogbonna pulled a goal back for Soham early in the second half after he was tripped in the area, but the goal only served to galvanise Hitchin who quickly hit back with four goals inside a blistering 10-minute spell.

Burke netted two more goals before the hour mark and Richard Howell made it 6-1 in the 61st minute after a fluid move.

Tom Pepper added a seventh in the 65th minute and Burke added his fourth just minutes later as Hitchin rampaged down the Soham flanks.

Soham were awarded an indirect freekick inside the Hitchin area after a pass-back but with 11 home players on the line, Ogbonna failed to find a way through and his blasted effort was blocked.

Soham’s misery was finally completed six minutes form time when Jamie Arlick pounced on a rebound to fire home.