Hungerford fall to Dover defeat
Danny Robinson's Hungerford Town slipped to a second successive 1-0 defeat at National League South new boys Dover Athletic on Saturday.
Robinson made one change from the opening day defeat against Concord Rangers – Rhys Tyler replaced the versatile Louis McGrory at right back.
The Crusaders had the better of the first half in the sweltering Kent sunshine but were unable to find a way past former England under-18 international Ryan Sandford.
First, Niko Muir tested Sandford before Curtis Angell couldn't quite turn home Joel Rollinson's cross at the back post.
Dover's Alfie Pavey was unable to find the target with a header from close range and then Rollinson was denied one-on-one on the stroke of half time.
Into the second half and the decisive moment came on 68 minutes when former Millwall man Pavey headed past Mark Scott in the Hungerford goal.
"It was a bit of deja vu to be honest, we were the better team in the first half but Dover were better than us second half," Robinson said.
"Once again it's boiled down to taking chances when they come along, we should've been one or two up.
"Curtis Angell pretty much had an open goal and the defender's somehow how managed to tip it round the post and then Joel Rollinson's had a one-on-one and the keeper's pulled off a great save.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow, but performance levels were there, just not the result.
"There's goals in us, I think it just takes that one, maybe that scruffy one that goes in off someone's backside, a little bit of lady luck.
"As long as we're creating chances, which we are, and I'm sure we'll continue to do, I'm confident we'll find the back of the net.
"It's the first week of the season, we've got a long, long way to go.
"I don't feel pressure, that's one thing that I never feel at Hungerford, there is no pressure.
"We are the smallest team, we have the smallest budget with the smallest postcode, people don't expect us to win.
"We're always proving people wrong and I'm sure that's what we'll continue to do."
Robinson is quite right, his side are masters at proving people wrong – it's a long old season, who knows what's to come.