Double blow for Hungerford
Hungerford Town’s winless run extended to four National League South games this week following defeats at Welling United and Oxford City.
The Crusaders, who have scored just nine goals in 16 league games, are now eight points from safety and at risk of being cut adrift towards the bottom of the table.
Hungerford travelled to Bexley at the weekend to take on Welling United off the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Cheshunt.
Boss Danny Robinson made three changes to his side as Matt Berry-Hargreaves recovered from a knock to return at centre half while Sammy Ompreon and Ben Allen were rewarded for lively midweek cameos with a place in the starting 11.
The visiting Crusaders had the first real chance of the contest 11 minutes in when the ball sat up invitingly for Niko Muir but the Hungerford frontman blasted his half volley well over Kai McKenzie-Lyle’s crossbar.
Robinson’s side continued to press and went close again 37 minutes in as Ben Allen forced an acrobatic save from Welling’s Guyanese international McKenzie-Lyle.
Thereafter Welling grew into the game and Ade Azeez spurned two good chances before the break, firing over the bar from inside the box before missing the target a second time following Jamie Sendles White’s header across goal.
Welling continued to grow in stature after half time and almost took the lead in the 59th minute, Antony Papadopolous unable to turn the ball home from close range.
The home fans didn’t have to wait much longer and were ahead 62 minutes in when Chi Ezzenolim was adjudged to have been fouled in the area and Devonte Aransibia fired home from the spot for his first Welling goal.
Hungerford huffed and puffed but the hosts continued to look more like scoring, the Crusaders’ Wycombe loanee Tyla Dickinson called into action to save from Ezzenolim and then Azzez before Ezzenolim had a shot blocked on the line and Iraqi international Yaser Kasim fired over.
Jerry Gyebi headed wide for Hungerford with 15 minutes remaining and there was hope for the Crusaders with 10 minutes left to play when Amadou Kassarate was sent off for a high tackle on Muir.
Hungerford were unable to make the extra man pay however and it was in fact Dickinson who was the busiest man on the pitch as the clock ticked down, producing good stops to deny 18-year-old Cameron Andrews and the usually prolific Azeez before the referee blew up for full time and condemned the Crusaders to a 1-0 defeat.
And Hungerford's week got even worse on Tuesday night following a 2-0 defeat up the A34 at Oxford City.
Robinson handed starts to on loan Bristol Rovers full back Ryan Jones and centre half Kyle Bailey but the one thing he can't change is Hungerford's luck, the Crusaders denied a penalty in the fifth minute despite the fact Joel Rollinson's header appeared to be handled on the line.
Hungerford continued to press and both Ompreon and Rollinson went close before the half hour, Ompreon denied by former Hartlepool United goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski before Rollinson's effort trickled past the post.
The Crusaders were once again made to rue those missed chances in the 38th minute when Josh Parker found the top corner from all of 30 yards to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead at half time.
Hungerford were slow to get going in the second half, Oxford almost doubling their lead seven minutes after the break when Joe Iaciofano lashed an effort off the bar.
The hosts did find a second just moments later when Charlie Rowan rose highest to head past Dickinson and made it 2-0.
Hungerford refused to give up and Jake Evans hit the bar just after the hour but a lack of goals continues to plague the Crusaders who were unable to fashion their way back into the game, 2-0 the final score.
Hungerford are in desperate need of points and will be hoping the visit of sixth placed Worthing this weekend will provide a springboard to build upon.
