Hungerford extend unbeaten home record to 13 following 2-1 win over Harrow Borough

Second half goals from Jack Wright and Sam De St Croix helped Hungerford Town extend their unbeaten home record to 13 matches following a 2-1 win over Harrow Borough this afternoon.

Jack Wright volleyed the Crusaders ahead after 74 minutes when he scored his first Town goal from Matt Berry-Hargreaves' diagonal free-kick before Sam De St Croix doubled the home side's lead with a cool finish eight minutes from time. Pap Jawara pulled one back in the sixth and final minute of added time, but the referee blew his whistle 30 seconds later as the hosts made it three wins in seven days.

Danny Robinson's side were unchanged for last Saturday's impressive 2-0 win over Truro City in the FA Trophy, with young goalkeeper Nick Harvey continuing to deputise for the injured Ryan Clarke. Baboucarr Jarra, who was an integral part of Robinson's FA Vase-winning Thatcham side in 2018, took up a place on the bench after returning for a third spell with the Crusaders last week. The visitors, meanwhile, arrived at Bulpit Lane following back-to-back defeats and were languishing in 19th in the league.

At a bitterly cold Bulpit Lane, there wasn't much to warm the hearts of the 306 spectators in the first 25 minutes or so. The Boro actually made the better start and had the first effort of the game after just two minutes when Reece Mitchell cut in from the left and lashed a venomous strike narrowly wide of Nick Harvey's near post.

With both sides rather cancelling one another out with matching 4-2-3-1 formations, home supporters were at last given something to shout about in the 21st minute when Conor McDonagh thought he'd headed his side in front, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. Rhys Tyler's deep cross was headed back across goal by Joe Shepherd for the waiting McDonagh, who was just half a yard in front of the last defender when he fired a header beyond Boro goalkeeper Tyler Tobin.

Welsh winger Elis Watts had a really mixed first half, causing full-back Mack Miskin his fair share of problems but too often ignoring Tyler on the overlap and getting caught in possession or blazing an ambitious effort over the bar. And the 21-year-old, who has for the most part been so impressive this season, had two half chances to put the hosts ahead after 36 minutes. Conor McDonagh turned a delightful ball round the corner for the wideman, who drove towards goal but saw his initial shot blocked. The rebound fell to Sam De St Croix, who slid the Welshman in again but his shot was blocked for the second time in succession. Both sides appealed for handball from the resulting corner, although the referee ruled in favour of the visitors.

Watts went close a couple of minutes before the break when McDonagh plucked the ball out of the already darkening sky and his shot deflected into the path of the winger, but Harrow goalkeeper Tyler Tobin was out quickly and did well to save his close range effort with his legs.

There was a blow for the Crusaders right on the stroke of half time when skipper Rhys Tyler limped off; boss Danny Robinson later confirmed it was an injury to his hamstring. Babs Jarra was introduced, rather earlier than he appeared to have been expecting, to play centre-back, while Matt Berry-Hargreaves moved to right-back.

Town showed much more intent after the restart and went within inches of taking the lead in the 47th minute. For what seemed like the first time all afternoon, Watts went down the line rather than cutting inside before firing a low ball dangerously across the face of goal. Goalkeeper Tobin got a rather unconvincing right boot to the ball, but no one was waiting at the back post and it trickled wide. Down the other end, Boro had a half chance moments later but frontman Excellence Muhemba was unable to provide a finish befitting of his name when he fired well over on the edge of the box following a smart turn.

The game was opening up and Babs Jarra went close to a goal on his league debut after his looping header was turned over the bar by Tobin following Elis Watts' corner from the right. Harrow Borough were not providing a massive threat, although the visitors created a couple of half chances on the counter but Victor Osubu became the third man to send a ball sailing out of the ground after a wayward attempt just before the hour.

Danny Robinson was clearly not about to be satisfied with a point and made an attacking change with a little over 20 minutes remaining when he introduced Great Evans, who has been in fine form since returning from a serious knee injury, in place of Adulai Sambu. Town changed to a 4-4-2, with Evans partnering McDonagh up top, Watts switching to the left hand side and Joe Shepherd moving out to the right.

And the hosts didn't have to wait much longer for the opener, although in spite of the attacking changes it came from a combination of two defenders. Makeshift full-back Matt Berry-Hargreaves was tripped while marauding forward, winning a free-kick which he got up to deliver into the box. His ball picked out Jack Wright, up from the back, at the far post and the defender volleyed beyond Tobin and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to Hungerford after 74 minutes.

Town doubled their lead in the 82nd minute when substitute Great Evans stole possession, drove forward and slid in the advancing Sam De St Croix, who took his time, sent two defenders to the deck with successive feints and lashed a strike into the net to extend the home side's advantage.

Nick Harvey made an excellent save in the fifth minute of six added, stretching out a firm right hand to deny substitute Kaine Kennedy-Sinclair. However the young goalkeeper was denied a second clean sheet in three matches a minute later when Pap Jawara's strike from distance deflected through a crowd of bodies and nestled in the corner to halve the deficit. Fortunately for Town, who haven't lost at home since April, it was only ever going to be a consolation and the referee's full time whistle followed 30 seconds later to end another good week for Danny Robinson and his side.

Hungerford, who are up to eighth and just two points outside the play-off places, are on the road for the first time in four weeks on Saturday when they travel to Tiverton, who are unbeaten in three games since the appointment of new manager Leigh Robinson.