Angell strike wows Crusaders faithful as impressive Hungerford beat Chippenham
A new era began in earnest at a windswept Bulpit Lane as an impressive Hungerford Town beat National League South side and local rivals Chippenham 3-2.
A late goal from academy graduate Toby Thorp, who signed first team terms on Thursday, made the difference after the Crusaders had twice come from behind thanks to a wonder-goal from Curtis Angell and a strike from Michael Fernandes.
It's been a summer of considerable change for Hungerford, with this the first home game since the departure of chairman Patrick Chambers.
Despite the fact West Berkshire had seen a week of baking sun, followed by one of torrential rain and was now feeling the affects of gale force winds, the normally bobbly Bulpit Lane pitch appeared as though Alan Titchmarsh had spent his summer holidays in Hungerford and the surface looked better than ever.
With Danny Robinson sending his side out with a flat back four for the third pre-season friendly in succession, both sides - and in particular Chippenham, who had former Crusader Jake Evans at the heart of their midfield - looked to keep the ball and bring it out from the back.
However the first incident of note came from a rather more direct route three minutes in when Nathan Davis launched one of his trademark long throws into the Chippenham area and the towering Luke Carnell flicked the ball onto Conor Mcdonagh, who turned the ball into the net from close range but the former Swindon Supermarine striker was a yard offside and the linesman flagged to rule it out.
The visitors took the lead after just seven minutes when a fluent move down the left resulted in a drilled cross to the back post which former Hungerford forward Craig Fasanmade - who also scored against the Crusaders last season - headed home at the back post to make it 1-0.
Chippenham Town boss Gary Horgan is clearly expecting his side to keep the ball on the deck this term - with the Bluebirds lacking much height and taking almost all their goal-kicks short - but Hungerford's press forced the visitors into a number of errors that saw them overplay, the first coming after 14 minutes when goalkeeper Will Henry gifted the ball to attacking midfielder Slavi Spasov, on trial following his release from Oxford United, but he sent his effort wide with Henry stranded in no man's land.
Hungerford were looking strong, combative and the better side for much of the opening exchanges - with Michael Fernandes in particular continuing his stellar form - but it was the visitors who were creating the better chances and Ryan Clarke had to be at his best to turn a powerful shot from Matt McClure wide of his near post after 23 minutes.
Danny Robinson will feel he has almost all of his squad in place ahead of the season opener against Plymouth Parkway on August 5 but new physio Nina Parkin - who worked with Robinson at Thatcham - has her hands full, with the Crusaders having suffered a series of injuries in the first few weeks of pre-season.
And there was a moment of real concern just after the half hour mark when Matt Partridge, who missed all of last season with a serious injury, limped off to be replaced by Matt Berry-Hargreaves, with Robinson, Parkin and the wider Crusaders community hopeful it's no more than a recurrence of some muscles tightness that saw him sit out Tuesday night's game with Gloucester City.
Hungerford drew level after 39 minutes in spectacular fashion when Curtis Angell scored a stunning goal from all of 40 yards.
When Michael Fernandes' cross was cleared to Angell, who got married earlier in the month, and the dependable full-back beat his man and then lined up for a shot from a staggering distance, those behind the goal - aware than Angell hadn't exactly been prolific since signing for Hungerford more than three years ago - were running for cover but the experienced defender struck what must be the sweetest shot of his career, firing the ball into the top corner and surely wrapping up Hungerford's goal of the season before the campaign proper has even begun.
The hosts had the ball in the net again after half time but saw a second goal chalked off after Carnell - who made a real nuisance of himself from long throws - half-volleyed the ball beyond Henry but the referee ruled there had been a handball in the initial contact after Davis had heaved another mighty throw into the Chippenham box on 52 minutes.
The wind - which had been strong even before the break - picked up even further following the restart and played a big part in a bizarre second Bluebirds goal that was either a moment of inspired magic or a total fluke, probably depending on whether you hail from West Berkshire or Wiltshire.
Chippenham skipper Luke Haines, who had had a good game up to that point, launched a free-kick from just inside the Hungerford half which caught the wind and caught out the hapless Ryan Clarke, who misjudged the ball's flight and could do little but watch it sail over his head and into the back of his net to make it 2-1 to the visitors after 54 minutes.
The home side almost fashioned an equaliser on the hour when a fluent move found Fabio Lopes, who had drifted in from the flank and freed frontman Conor McDonagh, who took a touch, steadied himself and fired a powerful shot towards goal from the edge of the box but the fingertips of Will Henry diverted the ball over the bar.
Both managers were now beginning to ring the changes, with Horgan making some seven substitutions and Robinson introducing full-back Owain Wheeler, another academy product who looks physically well-suited to the demands of men's football and impressed in his 25 minutes on the pitch.
Hungerford made it 2-2 after 68 minutes when Michael Fernandes came in off the touchline, collected the ball and his fast feet outfoxed the floundering visiting defence before he rolled beyond Henry to score his second goal in two pre-season games.
The hosts were now beginning to dominate and went within a whisker of taking the lead in the 72nd minute when a ball over the top got held up in the wind, causing panic and miscommunication between the backtracking Haines and onrushing Henry, with Haines eventually hacking the ball straight up into the air and substitute Toby Thorp - the second academy product to take to the field in the second half - headed the ball on for Conor McDonagh who, running parallel to the panicked Henry, lashed his strike against the crossbar to spare Chippenham's blushes.
The Crusaders didn't have to wait much longer for a winner and a first goal for Thorp, who stole the ball from Haines just inside the Chippenham half, carried it forward and spread it wide, continuing on into the box where a cross eventually arrived for him to turn home on 78 minutes to cap an excellent week both for the youngster and the Crusaders, who held on for a well-deserved 3-2 win.
Hungerford's fourth pre-season fixture will see them travel to Wessex League side AFC Stoneham on Tuesday evening.