Late Jones red costs Crusaders
Danny Robinson’s 100th game in charge of Hungerford Town ended in heartbreak as Craig Fasanmade’s added time strike rescued a point for visitors Chippenham in a 1-1 draw at Bulpit Lane on Saturday.
The Crusaders led for much of the second half following Joel Rollinson’s 49th minute goal but a late red card for Bristol Rovers loanee Ryan Jones handed the Bluebirds a lifeline before substitute Fasanmade equalised in the 91st minute in what felt like a must-win game for Hungerford at the bottom of the National League South table.
Local rivals Chippenham crossed the Berkshire border unbeaten in four matches while Hungerford hadn’t lost at home in three and knew little else than win would do in the battle to avoid relegation.
The visitors started the better and created the first real chance of the game in the 10th minute when the lively Harry Parsons cut inside and bent a left footed shot just wide of Jed Ward’s far post.
Hungerford began to grow into the game somewhat but the Bluebirds continued to look the better side and both Kyle Bailey and Matt Berry-Hargreaves were required to make crucial blocks inside their own area as the hosts struggled to create a chance of their own.
Hungerford were living a little dangerously and Swindon loanee Parsons was in the thick of the action again in the 19th minute when the ball fell to him following a goalmouth scramble before the 20-year-old’s shot cannoned off the post.
However the Crusaders were beginning to establish a foothold in the game and had the best chance of the first half 24 minutes in when Ryan Jones’ left footed cross found the head of the normally prolific Dan Roberts only for the frontman to head wide from inside the six yard box.
The hosts now had the majority of the 525 fans inside Bulpit Lane on their side and looked the likelier to open the scoring until a scare at the other end just after the half hour when Ward made a great save after a cross deflected off his outfield namesake Christie but flapped at the subsequent corner as the Hungerford supporters held their breath before the ball was hacked clear.
There was time for another chance in added time of half time as the Chippenham defence found themselves stretched and Jake Evans slid in Joel Rollinson who should’ve had a shot but tried instead to cut back inside and had the ball taken off him before he could test Will Henry in the visitors’ goal.
Rollinson made no such mistake shortly after the teams reappeared for the second half and put the hosts 1-0 up in the 49th minute after fantastic work from Roberts put it on a plate for the 24-year-old who fired home from eight yards to the delight of the home fans making their way out of the clubhouse.
For much of the second half Hungerford appeared to be in control as the pitch became muddier and muddier and a massive three points grew closer and closer as the Crusaders’ white shirts turned brown with the Bulpit surface.
The conditions meant that this was more a game for the traditionalists than the purists but the hosts were able to play some decent stuff and were unfortunate not to be out of sight as Chippenham’s Will Henry made a succession of spectacular saves.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper played twice on loan at Hungerford in 2020 but showed no hint of sympathy for his former club’s plight, saving one on one from Rollinson after a delightful ball from Evans before keeping out Christie Ward’s header with a brilliant reflex save.
The one-time Swindon Town stopper almost made a mistake as the clock ticked down when he spilt a Ryan Jones free-kick but recovered well to smother the ball before it crossed the line and was back to his best to thwart Ward again in the 79th minute, diving to his left to turn the Wycombe loanee’s effort wide of the post.
Then came the crucial moment of the match when Ryan Jones was given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 86th minute following a challenge in which he appeared to make at least some contact with the ball.
The 10 men of Hungerford valiantly held on until the first minute of five added when Fasanmade popped up to fire home a late equaliser after Jed Ward had kept out an initial effort to send the Bluebirds back to Wiltshire with a point.
It was almost a massive three points for Hungerford but in truth a draw does little for the Crusaders hopes, leaving them still eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the National League South table ahead of the visit of sixth placed Chelmsford City on Tuesday night.
