Misery for Crusaders in narrow Hemel loss
But boss Danny Robinson is determined to keep Hungerford smiling
THERE was more midweek disappointment for struggling Hungerford Town, who lost 3-2 to Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday.
The Crusaders were unable to recover from a miserable first 30 minutes as goals from Dara Dada and Josh Castiglione gave the visitors a mountain to climb.
There was hope for Hungerford before the break when new man Dan Roberts, signed less than 12 hours before on loan from Dartford, pulled one back after Ryan Jones’ initial free-kick was blocked.
And Hungerford were level just a minute into the second half, the influential Jones’ corner beating everyone and sailing straight into the net to grab the Crusaders an equaliser.
Hungerford haven’t had much luck with decisions of late and so it proved in the decisive final 30 minutes.
First, Hemel were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when Brooklyn Ilunga was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and Dada stepped up to convert his second and restore the hosts’ lead.
Then, with five minutes left, substitute Sammy Ompreon looked to have been taken out in the Hemel box, but the referee waved away the appeals, condemning the Crusaders to
a fifth defeat in six.
Boss Danny Robinson remains insistent that his side aren’t far away from a run of positive results and there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic on Saturday in a 0-0 draw with Worthing.
While there were no fireworks at Bulpit Lane, the Crusaders were good value for a point and had chances to win the game.
It had been a long time since the two sides last met, but Ompreon was quick to familiarise himself with the Worthing full-back, cutting on
to his right foot before curling a tame shot straight into the arms of Harrison Male inside two minutes.
And Ompreon was causing problems again 10 minutes later, driving forward before he was fouled on the edge of the box by Conrad Honore, the midfielder the first man into the referee’s book.
Set-piece specialist Jake Evans’ low free kick was well saved by former Leeds United goalkeeper Male.
Hungerford handed a debut to experienced stopper Simon Grant – signed on a dual-registration from Bracknell, he becomes the seventh man to feature in between the sticks for the Crusaders this season – and he did well to collect a low cross in the lashing rain 33 minutes in.
Grant was beaten four minutes later, but Akanbi’s shot was cleared on the line by the impressive George Smith.
The Crusaders started the second half much like they’d started the first and were almost rewarded in the 49th minute when Niko Muir’s shot was saved, his attempted cut-back from the rebound was half cleared and then Evans’ drive was blocked.
The visitors almost snatched all three points at the death as
an in-swinging corner landed at the feet of Crawley Town loanee Mo Shubbar, but his effort was superbly blocked by Jerry Gyebi before Kane Wills fired in a low shot that Grant did brilliantly well to save at his near post.
Robinson was upbeat afterwards, praising his side’s character and resilience despite a difficult first three months of the campaign that’s left Hungerford second from bottom and now seven points from safety.
He said: “I’m proud of the lads. I’d have taken a point beforehand, we will keep going and we will find a win soon enough.
“It’s not for the want of trying, we’re working really hard.
“There’s too much quality in that changing room, if we keep going with these performances we’ll be okay
“The games come thick and fast and no matter what happens we’ll make sure we enjoy every game.
“That’s what this football club is all about, we keep marching on together.”
Hungerford welcome Slough Town to Bulpit Lane on Saturday in search of their first home win since August.