FA Cup return to Poole for Hungerford

Bashley 0 Hungerford Town 3
HUNGERFORD TOWN’S ‘reward’ for winning through to Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup will be a trip to the Poole Town side that joined them in winning promotion to the Calor League’s Premier Division at the end of last season.
Last term’s Division One South and West champions will host the tie on Saturday, October 12.
Hungerford strolled into the next round with a comfortable win in the New Forest on Saturday. Goals at key times gave Hungerford the cushion to concentrate on progress without being seriously threatened by the side that props up the Calor League’s Premier Division.
Hungerford did all they had to in order to win through with minimum fuss. They were a goal up after eight minutes when Alan O’Brien reclaimed the ball from his own corner, and his cross found Jon Boardman stopping to head the ball through goalkeeper Chad Collins’ fumble.
Stefan Brown should probably have made it two. Given a start along with Michael Hopkins on the way back from injury, Brown was played in by Josh Parsons’ shimmy, run and pass but Collins got out well to block Brown’s effort on the side edge of his six-yard box.
But Brown found his way through after 37 minutes when O’Brien delivered another corner that two defenders miss-read under pressure and the ball fell for Brown to hook home on the volley.
Hungerford struck again 61 seconds into the second half O’Brien had already streaked beyond Tim Stephenson and he was at it again, this time crossing low for Bradley Fray to sweep home from close range.
Tie, purse and ball in the bag secured, Hungerford kept possession, broke dangerously and defenders with determination to keep yet another clean sheet and although the aggressive Tim Sills did get the balk in the net, it was only after threatening Paul Strudley with his studs as Hungerford trekked through the game as if they were going for a brisk walk in the forest.
Hungerford are back in cup action on Tuesday night when they entertain League One MK Dons at Bulpit Lane with a 7.45pm kick-off.