Relegation-threatened Tiverton send Town crashing

HUNGERFORD Town’s Southern League Premier play-off hopes suffered a massive blow at Bulpit Lane on Saturday.

On a miserable day for the Crusaders, they had Jacob Gardiner-Smith and Matt Berry Hargreaves sent off as they lost 2-1 to relegation-threatened Tiverton.

The result leaves manager Danny Robinson’s side with no room for error until the end of the season.

For both teams, it was all about closing the gap.

Kick-off was delayed until 3.15 as the match officials were stuck in traffic.

Hungerford were on the front foot from the first whistle.

And they nearly went ahead in the opening minute when they won a corner and the Tiverton defence pulled off several blocks before the ball was eventually cleared.

At the other end, Town keeper Ryan Clarke made a good stop down the other end as the Devon side responded.

But in the third minute the Crusaders went ahead.

A defence-splitting pass from midfielder Joe Shepherd found Conor McDonagh, who finished calmly past Zak Baker.

Hungerford should have made it 2-0 after a mistake from Baker let in Fabio Lopes, but he could only fire wide of the target.

Tiverton drew level in the 14th minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the area and Joe Parker blasted home the spot kick.

The goal sparked Tiverton into life and Clarke made a fine save fromMatt Britton’s glancing header.

Hungerford ended the half the stronger as neat approach play fashioned successive corners.

But Hungerford’s afternoon began to go wrong in the 51st minute.

Former CSKA Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg Academy midfielder Gardiner-Smith was sent off after picking up his second yellow card.

Tiverton, with the extra man, started to enjoy greater possession.

A flowing move saw Jack Rice denied by a good save from Clarke.

The Crusaders’ Elis Watts had a penalty shout turned down, then, in the 65th minute, Berry-Hargreaves turned the ball into his own net while under pressure from Parker to give Tiverton the lead.

With frustrations growing for the home side, Berry-Hargreaves picked up a yellow card for an adjudged foul followed by a second for something he said to leave Hungerford with nine men.

Amazingly, playing against nine men, Tiverton had four players booked, adding to Allen’s caution and a card for Rice in the first half.

There were few scares for the visitors in the closing minutes.

And while they celebrated a vital win, Crusaders were left cursing their luck again.