Impressive Crusaders 'glorious in defeat'

Hungerford Town suffered a fourth successive defeat at home to league leaders Ebbsfleet United on Saturday.

In truth, Danny Robinson’s side were unfortunate to lose 1-0 but were once again made to rue missed chances in a fiery contest that saw captain Callum Willmoth sent off late on.

There were two home debuts for the Crusaders – teenage goalkeeper Eddie Breary, on loan from League One’s Oxford United, replaced the injured Jed Ward while Conor Lynch started up-front as he begins his second spell at Bulpit Lane after stints with Baskingstoke and Bracknell.

Kick-off was delayed by half an hour as Ebbsfleet’s coach ran into traffic on the M4, and Hungerford almost capitalised on the Fleet’s less-than-ideal preparations two minutes in when Lynch found himself bearing down on goal, only for his strike to be saved by the legs of the experienced Mark Cousins.

Ebbsfleet, a full-time outfit who had won nine from nine in league and cup prior to their arrival at the Bulpit, made the Crusaders pay three minutes later when Luke O’Neill found space on the right-hand side and his cutback was expertly despatched by Toby Edser from twelve yards to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Any suggestions that Hungerford were about to fold against a side with five times their budget were soon dispelled when a minute after conceding Curtis Angell had a great chance to equalise, but the full-back was unable to direct his header at the back post as he looked destined to score.

A brilliant last-ditch challenge from Willmoth on 13 minutes lifted the crowd and Hungerford had another chance to equalise 29 minutes in when Lynch found space again but scuffed his shot, which was comfortable for Cousins.

Hungerford survived a couple of scares before the break as the Fleet looked to regain the ascendancy but the sides went in at half time with the score 1-0, an exciting contest well in the balance and a feeling that Hungerford had the visitors on the ropes.

The Crusaders threw the kitchen sink at Ebbsfleet in the second half but the equalising goal continued to prove elusive, Rhys Tyler going close just after the hour when he cut inside onto his left foot and drilled a low shot that was well saved by Cousins at his near post.

Thereafter both sides exchanged blows, Ebbsfleet substitute Omari Sterling-James flashing wide from distance on 70 minutes before Kyle Bailey’s strike from the edge of the box produced an excellent save from Cousins with 11 minutes remaining.

Perhaps the best indicator of the pattern of the game was the ever-increasing ire of Ebbsfleet’s German manager Dennis Kutrieb.

Unflappable in the first 20 minutes, the Berliner produced an astonishing moment as the clock ticked down, throwing himself onto the floor as substitute Ben Allen came to collect the ball for a Crusaders throw in when it was apparent there was at best little contact between the two men.

It was enough to earn Allen a yellow card and with the atmosphere at fever pitch, stand in skipper Willmoth made a firm challenge on Shaquile Coulthirst, which the man in the middle deemed enough to produce a red card.

There were to be six added minutes but not much more in the way of drama, a tame Allen free kick Hungerford’s final chance as an exhilarating contest fizzled out and Ebbsfleet held on to a hard earned 1-0 win.

“I think we were glorious in defeat,” Danny Robinson said.

“I’m so proud of the players, we covered every inch of grass and tested Ebbsfleet for 95 minutes non-stop.

“I felt we were the better side, we created more chances, it’s just putting the ball in the magic net, that’ll come.

“Tactically I thought we were brilliant, man for man I thought we were brilliant, all we needed was a bit of luck.”

Robinson was full of praise for returning striker Conor Lynch, who caused the experienced Ebbsfleet defence all sorts of problems despite not have played for five weeks.

“I have to praise Conor who came in and had three chances, a couple of weeks down the line when he’s got some match sharpness I have every faith he’ll put the ball in the back of the net,” he said.

“He had to go away and play games, when I first came here we had a magic man in Ryan Seager who he wasn’t going to displace.

“He’s a local lad, one of three academy players we had in the team today, that’s phenomenal.

“He’s a goalscorer, he’s a sniffer, his work rate is absolutely brilliant, he’s got that Hungerford DNA.

“I’m proud of his performance.”

The Crusaders boss was also delighted with his hard-working midfield trio of Willmoth, George Smith and Louis McGrory, adding that Willmoth’s late red card “wasn’t a sending off in a million years”.

He said: “He actually won the ball, the referee got it horribly wrong.

“I think he lost a little bit of control, the theatrics from Dennis didn’t help.

“Referees are emotional like players, we’re all people, maybe the emotions got the better of him.

“I was disappointed with him, especially the second half, he’s a human, it happens.”

Bristol Rovers loanee Jed Ward is expected to return next Saturday, when the Crusaders travel to Dartford, as he recovers from an injured hip flexor.

“Jed needs a bit of rest and recuperation,” Robinson said.

“I have to say thank you to Oxford United for letting us have Eddie, he really didn’t have a save to make today.”

Hungerford welcome Hampton and Richmond Borough, who sit three places above them in 18th, to Bulpit Lane on Tuesday night, 7:45 kick off.