Superb Medford-Smith strike preserves Hungerford’s home record as Crusaders draw with Dorchester

Hungerford Town made it five games unbeaten at Bulpit Lane after Ramarni Medford-Smith’s spectacular strike salvaged a 1-1 draw with Dorchester Town on Tuesday night.

While it could yet prove an important point, it was an ultimately disappointing evening for Danny Robinson’s side, who had hoped to offer a more resounding response to Saturday’s emphatic 4-0 defeat against Gosport Borough and who are languishing in 14th in the Southern Premier League South table.

Robinson made four changes from Saturday’s fourth successive defeat on the road, welcoming Matt Berry-Hargreaves back from suspension and Sean Moore back from his honeymoon, while Ramarni Medford-Smith and Slavi Spasov also returned as the Crusaders lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

However, Hungerford were well below their best in the first half and were fortunate to go in just 1-0 down at the break after former Crusaders frontman Leighton Thomas fired the Magpies ahead in the 34th minute following a mix-up in the home side’s midfield.

Dorchester, who were searching for a third win in a row and had three debutants in their XI, dominated large parts of the first period, striking the woodwork through the lively Shaq Gwengwe and forcing a couple of sharp saves from Ryan Clarke, including an excellent stop from new man Will Spetch’s close range header.

The second half was an entirely different story as Robinson changed his side’s shape to good effect, bringing midfielder Nathan Davis on for Sean Moore at the break and reverting to a 4-3-3, strengthening the hosts in the middle of the park.

Hungerford found an equaliser just three minutes after the restart when the marauding Medford-Smith rifled a left-footed shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box and the Crusaders could have won it, going close late on when substitute Curtis Angell turned the ball over from six yards.

“It was a game of two halves,” Robinson said.

“First half, we didn’t get going and I have to give Dorchester credit, I thought they were really good and their front three caused us a lot of problems.

“We stuck at it, showed good character and in the second half it was all us.

“I thought Nathan Davis made a massive difference when he came on and we were so much better, we were overrun in the first half.

“At the end of the day we’re scratching our heads thinking how we haven’t won it.”

Hungerford travel to local rivals Chippenham in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday.