Danny Robinson explains frustration after key decisions cost Hungerford Town against Hemel Hempstead

Hungerford Town manager Danny Robinson was left frustrated with the officials after Tuesday’s 1-0 away defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town.

A second-half penalty, scored by Charlee Hughes, was all that separated the two sides in the game at Vauxhall Road.

Kyle Bailey was penalised for handball, which led to the penalty decision, and Robinson felt his side were hard done by.

“The performance was, once again, very good, but the officials determined the outcome of the game unfortunately.

“The handball wasn’t a hand, it hit a body part before hitting the arm and that is not in the rules.

“They [officials] missed a blatant red card challenge James Rusby and we had Ryan Seager’s goal chalked off for offside when the ball ricocheted off a defender.

“Hemel didn’t have a shot on target and we missed three or four glorious opportunities to score and that’s why I can moan, because we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

The defeat comes just a couple of days after a 2-1 win over Chelmsford City and Robinson was pleased with his sides result.

“The reaction was good and on Saturday I had a feeling we would get something out of the game.

“We had a good and honest conversation at training and again before the game and the lads responded magnificently.

“The result was a good one and, although it’s a punishing league, when we’re at it we are a match for anyone in this division.”

This weekend, the Crusaders will have the opportunity to bounce back from the Hemel defeat when they host Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.

“Notoriously, we don’t ever get near Dulwich,” admitted Robinson. “We got beat 3-0 at home by them and we got beat 3-1 at their place.

“They are a good side, one of the best we have played, and we will have to come up with a game plan to nullify their threats and try to hurt them.”