Hungerford Town’s relegation from the National League South confirmed

Hungerford Town are preparing for life in the Southern Premier League next season after their relegation from theNational League South was confirmed on Saturday.

The Crusaders needed to beat Dulwich Hamlet to take the fight for survival into the final week but an 88th minute equaliser agonisingly denied them all three points.

The hosts had to play 75 minutes plus added time with 10 men after Louis McGrory – who was crowned supporters’ player of the season prior to kick-off – was given a straight red card for a challenge on midfielder Frankie Raymond.

However Hungerford are no stranger to battling against the odds and were full of their usual grit and determination before taking the lead after 70 minutes when two loan players combined as Bristol Rovers loanee Ryan Jones set up Slough man Dan Roberts to make it 1-0.

The Crusaders held on until two minutes from time when veteran frontman Danny Mills flicked the ball onto George Porter and the former Bromley attacker beat Max Evans from close range to shatter the hopes of most of the 719 spectators packed into Bulpit Lane.

Chaos ensued after the equaliser as Curtis Angell and Dulwich’s Gianni Crichlow were sent off following a melee after the goal while goalscorer Porter also saw red for dissent in the 100th minute of an action-packed contest.

While there were plenty of tears at full time, manager Danny Robinson remained proud of his players, who could not have given more in their fight to beat the drop.

“It was a typical Hungerford Town performance at Bulpit Lane,” Robinson said.

“It was blood, guts and thunder, creating chances and not quite taking them.

“Even with nine men we created chances.

“It’s just been that kind of season.”

The hugely popular and well-respected Robinson is approaching the end of the most challenging season of his 16-year managerial career.

Hungerford’s problems started in the summer when the Crusaders lost top goalscorer Ryan Seager and creator-in-chief Sol Wanjau-Smith to National League sides while replacements Leighton Thomas, Niko Muir and Adam Liddle struggled to find their feet.

Hungerford found themselves 10 points from safety in December and at risk of being cut adrift but a 1-0 win at home to Dover in apocalyptic weather conditions kickstarted a revival that saw the Crusaders move to within touching distance of survival.

The goals of David Bremang and Dan Roberts were instrumental in Robinson’s side’s resurgence but the two frontmen suffered injuries within days of one another, with Bremang ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Hungerford dipped into the market in search of more firepower and signed strikers Great Evans and Joe Boachie as well as attackers Michael Fernandes and Fabio Lopes, but the Crusaders fell just short and will return to Step 7 for the first time in almost a decade.

Robinson said: “It would be easy to say that things would’ve been different if we’d had Ryan or Sol, or if we’d kept David Bremang and Dan Roberts fit, but I think if we’d started the season with this squad we wouldn’t be in this predicament

“The fact is that we didn’t and we couldn’t, the football club has to cut its cloth and we can’t spend beyond our means.

“We had an FA Trophy run and that allowed us to get a couple of players in, it’s hard and it’s tough.

“I’ve loved the challenge and I think the world of this football club, it’s unfortunate that we’ve just come up short.

“It’s been difficult, we’ve been punching well above our weight.

“We’ve tried to unearth some gems and spot players from lower leagues that can make the step up.

“This is a very special football club because of the people that work so hard behind the scenes and the hardy fans that follow us everywhere.

“We’ll dust ourselves down again and then look forward to a break and see what the future holds.

“We’ll be back.”