Frustration for Danny Robinson, as Watts magic not enough for Hungerford Town
Hungerford Town manager Danny Robinson was left frustrated following a difficult week for his squad.
The trip away to Wimborne on Saturday did not deliver the performance Robinson was hoping for, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Jack Stanley came in at right-back for suspended captain Rhys Tyler, as midfielder Louis McGrory inherited the armband.
There was a first league start for young centre-back Luke Softley, who partnered Matt Berry-Hargreaves, while Jacob Bancroft retained his place up front, as new signing Dawid Regula remained on the bench.
Hungerford made a positive start, with Elis Watts setting up Bancroft in the third minute who shot just wide.
It was a miss the Crusaders were made to regret, as Wimborne made it 1-0 with just ten minutes on the clock.
Seven minutes later, Bancroft was presented with another chance, as Matt Berry-Hargreaves played a long pass forward which split the Wimborne defence in two.
The pass found Bancroft, who smashed it home to equalise, his third goal in as many starts this season.
As the rain fell, the game became scrappy, with half-time offering a chance to reset.
Hungerford threatened after the break, testing the keeper on multiple occasions before a sting in the tail came.
A long spell of pressure led to a Wimborne throw, which found a player in space out wide.
An unchallenged cross found a Wimborne head in the box, which flew past Ryan Clarke for 2-1.
A late Hungerford fightback which saw Watts hit the post was in vain, as they fell to eighteenth in the league.
“We did miss chances, we did hit the post, but I just thought that desire wise, it was all Wimborne, really and truthfully,” Robinson said.
“After conceding the goal we got ourselves back in it and did alright.
“We did well up until half-time, we weathered their storm.
“In the second half we started ok, but it's those lapses in concentration that killed us.
“The second goal was criminal.
“We let them take a throw and it found a player’s feet with no one around him.
“He just crossed it… no pressure on the ball at all.
“Of course it’s going to find a Wimborne head. Easily preventable.”
Robinson was keen to praise goal scorer Jacob Bancroft, who bagged his third goal in as many starts on Saturday, as well as centre-back Matt Berry-Hargreaves, who picked him out with a spectacular pass.
“Jacob is still raw, a work in progress, but he is a threat!”, he said.
“He’s been very good, weather off the bench or from the start, he’s always positive.
“Matt’s a terrific player… a good footballer for a centre-half, he’s a bit more cultured!
We do ask him to step in and find a pass, and it was a brilliant pass, but it didn’t shock me, he does it every week in training.”
Tuesday presented an opportunity to put things right, as Robinson’s side hit the road again to face Gloucester City.
Robinson made changes, as Rhys Tyler returned, Baboucarr Jarra replaced Softley, Joe Shepherd came into midfield and James Harding got his chance up top.
Just five minutes in however, it was the hosts who took the lead, as Ben Richards-Everton scored a free header at the back post.
This didn’t dissuade the Crusaders, who battled back into the game and were the better side by half-time, despite not finding an equaliser.
This positive approach continued after the break, with Hungerford threatening to make a breakthrough.
It was Elis Watts who found one, in a moment of brilliance he beat five players before finishing coolly to level the scores at 1-1 in the 63rd minute.
Following this, Robinson went for the win, bringing on newly signed striker Dawid Regula for his second appearance.
Watts continued to work his magic, causing chaos for the Gloucester defence as he tried to set up the winning goal.
It wasn’t to be however, as in the 77th minute a Gloucester shot took a large deflection which beat Clarke to put them 2-1 up.
Despite a last minute goalmouth scramble, this is how it ended, in a disappointing loss for Hungerford who did enough to earn a draw at least.
