Heroic Hungerford sink Saints and move to within five points of safety
Hungerford Town put pressure on their National League South relegation rivals following a 3-0 win over play-off contenders St Albans City at Bulpit Lane on Tuesday evening.
New signing David Bremang opened the scoring with his second goal in two games before Jake Evans doubled the Crusaders lead on the stroke of half time and the impressive loanee Christie Ward wrapped up three points in the 52nd minute as Hungerford won at home in the league for the first time in a month.
The hosts were desperate for a win and were on the front foot from the start, pressing sixth placed St Albans and going close in the 16th minute when Norwich loanee Dylan Berry spilled the returning Ryan Jones' half volley but used all of his six foot six frame as he scrambled to his feet to block Bremang's rebound before denying Dylan Adjei-Hersey on the follow-up.
Jed Ward was forced into a couple of excellent saves, keeping out Shaun Jeffers from close range and then Mitchell Weiss from distance as the Crusaders weathered a 15 minute spell of pressure midway through the half.
The home side looked every bit as good as the visitors and were rewarded for a fine first half in the 40th minute when the superb Jones, who seems sure to have a bright future ahead, stole the ball on halfway, glided past three defenders and slid in Bremang, who turned his man and beat Berry – who should've done better – with a left footed shot to hand Hungerford a lead.
It was 2-0 five minutes later after the excellent Christie Ward set up Jake Evans, who fired into the roof of the net from six yards after his initial cross was blocked to double Hungerford's advantage at the break.
St Albans were out early for the second half but it made little difference as the confident Crusaders continued to cut through the Saints' defence with ease, making it 3-0 on 52 minutes when Ward was rewarded with a goal after he was quickest to a loose ball following a corner and poked beyond Berry to send the Bulpit faithful into delirium.
The visitors never really threatened a comeback and it was the 19-year-old Berry who was the busier goalkeeper in the last half an hour, saving from Jones in the 76th minute and watching efforts from Adjei-Hersey and substitute Niko Muir whistle past his posts as Hungerford moved to within five points of safety.
Manager Danny Robinson was delighted with his side's performance and full of confidence when it comes to the battle for National League South survival.
"I thought start to finish we were very, very good," he said.
"I think it's been coming, we've added David (Bremang) up front and he's made a massive difference, we're hoping he might be that last piece of the jigsaw puzzle.
"I feel like I let the lads down at the start of the season, because the squad wasn't right, but we've got the people in we need now and that gives us a fighting chance.
"I'm pleased for the lads because they give this football club absolutely everything."
Robinson's attention now turns to the FA Trophy on Saturday, when Hungerford welcome National League North side Farsley Celtic with a place in the quarter-final up for grabs.
"It's one of the biggest games for the club in a long time, it's a history making tie for us" he said.
"I can't wait, we're going to soak it all up and give it everything."