Hungerford lose ground in play-off push
Two disappointing results leaves Hungerford needing a win tonight (Monday) to get their play-off push back on track
HUNGERFORD TOWN face a major task to get their Zamaretto League play-off show back on the road after picking up only one point from six after two disappointing showings.
They were held to a goal-less draw at Almondsbury Town on Wednesday night but any consolation of an away point was wiped away when they went down 2-1 at home to North Leigh on Saturday.
It was the Oxfordshire side's seventh away win of the season as new signing Josh Dutton-Black gave Leigh an early lead and Kieran Sanders blasted home a stunning 30-yarder after the break.
Jemel Johnson pulled one back, but too late to make a difference to Hungerford, who are due to go to Mangotsfield tonight (Monday) when nothing less than a win will enable them to keep on the tails of the play-off spot holders.
Wednesday night's game at Almondsbury was one of few chances and neither side really threatened to break the deadlock.
Ryan Crockford had a shot touched over by home goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who also kept out a Johnson shot. The visitors also mounted a late scramble that needed one touch, but that never came and a draw was a fair result.
Hungerford now need to get their quest back on course when they go to promotion-chasing Mangotsfield United tonight (Monday).
Charlie Mpi followed up his treble against Bideford last week by netting another brace as Thatcham Town won 4-0 at Bridgwater Town.
Thatcham's second away win of the year added to Bridgwater's lean home spell that has seen them without a home success since last November.
It was all but wrapped up by the break when Thatcham were three goals to the good, all netted in a seven minute spell before the interval.
Mpi ran onto Sean Cook's pass to net the opener and Gareth Thomas converted a Paul Taplin free kick into the box before Cook punished goalkeeper Stuart Wood for a poor clearance by clipping the ball back over his head.
Thatcham faced the powerful wind after the break and also lost Cook to a red card shortly after the re-start. But they struck again midway through the period when Taplin set up Mpi for his second and Bridgwater's comeback efforts were limited to one shot against the bar as Thatcham collected the points.
Harry Goodger signed off before starting a suspension by scoring twice as Newbury beat bottom of the table Didcot Town Reserves 4-0 at Faraday Road in the Hellenic League's Division One East.
Newbury led through Danny Collins' early goal with Goodger and Danny Langford adding to the lead after the break before Goodger wrapped up the scoring in the final minute.
Ian Concannon's penalty gave Hungerford Reserves a 1-1 draw at Farnborough Reserves.
