HUNGERFORD TOWN had to scrape their way to a narrow 2-1 win over Zamaretto League whipping boys Bracknell Town at Bulpit Lane on Saturday and it was the league’s basement club who had most cause for disappointment.
Bracknell conceded 19 goals in their previous three games and they appeared to be well on the way to another hiding as Hungerford led 2-0 midway through the first half.
Ian Concannon put Hungerford ahead after seven minutes when he converted Luke Brewer’s knock-down from a Steve Cook cross, and Brewer himself added the second when he volleyed home, again from Cook’s supply line.
But Bracknell, who lost Gary Sargeant and Martin Bradshaw to injury before the interval, looked more threatening after that start and they had the perfect chance to reduce the arrears when goalkeeper James Foster clattered into Sargeant but Tom Mudge’s penalty clipped the
outside of the post.
Foster was beaten before the interval however, when David Pearce let fly with a curling 35-yarder that flew into the top corner and the visitors continued to make the better openings in an otherwise dour second period, littered by yellow cards.
Concannon did have an effort bundled off the line, but Shaun Grant was just off the mark with a 40 yarder before Pearce thought he had salvaged a point when his free kick appeared destined for the top corner until Foster leaped to pull off an acrobatic save.
THTCHAM TOWN had put eight goals past Bracknell the previous week, but they failed to hit the target at all as they went down 2-0 at Abingdon United.
Thatcham trailed after eight minutes when Paul Strudley could only parry Jeff Brown’s shot and Ben Weedon pounced to net the rebound, and although the visitors made chances they fell further behind when Paul Taplin flew to keep out John Mills’ shot with his hands.
Taplin was sent off and Elliott Osbourne-Ricketts converted the penalty.
Thatcham had a spot kick of their own to get back into the game when Brown handled, but Sam Rea’s kick was stopped by Jon Beames and only the woodwork and Strudley saved Thatcham from a heavier beating after the break.
NEWBURY were humbled 5-1 at home by leaders Wokingham and Emmbrook in Division One East of the Hellenic League as Richard Bland’s hat-trick, a Chris Burns effort and an own goal put Wokingham 5-0 up at the break with Kalief Madden netting a second half consolation for Newbury.
Second-to-bottom Penn and Tylers Green won 3-0 at Kintbury Rangers.