Crusaders draw a blank in disappointing defeat

Hungerford Town are hovering above the National League South relegation zone following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Taunton Town at Bulpit Lane on Saturday.

The Crusaders have now failed to score in five of their first seven matches this season, winning just once, and sit 20th in the league table.

Danny Robinson made one change to his side from Monday’s draw with Weymouth as Callum Willmoth returned in midfield, replacing George Smith.

Hungerford almost made a lightning fast start 20 seconds in when Adam Liddle unleashed a venomous strike from distance that sailed narrowly over Southampton loanee Jack Bycroft’s bar.

Taunton should’ve been ahead four minutes later when former Crusader Nat Jarvis failed to turn the ball home on the stretch from five yards after a fluid move.

Taunton’s Dan Ball, Zac Smith and Ollie Chamberlain all had chances in the first 15 minutes before Hungerford almost snuck in on goal following great work from Niko Muir and Adam Liddle five minutes later.

Muir and Liddle combined again on 38 minutes when Hungerford dispossessed Lloyd James well up the pitch and Liddle found Muir who beat one defender, but his drilled shot was kept out by the right foot of Bycroft.

Taunton went ahead in added time of the first half when the impressive Jay Foulston arrived to calmly slot past Jed Ward after a flowing counter-attack.

The Peacocks almost doubled their lead two minutes after the restart when Ward – who this week extended his stay at Bulpit Lane until the end of the season – saved well from Dave Sims-Burgess’ strike from the edge of the box.

The Crusaders best effort of the second half came with 12 minutes to go when James Rusby’s long throw was cleared onto the head of the onrushing Rhys Tyler whose looping header was well saved by Bycroft.

Into five minutes of added time and Hungerford struggled to manoeuvre a clear sight of goal, Joel Rollinson’s late strike blocked before the referee blew the final whistle and sent Taunton back to Somerset with all three points.

The Crusaders assistant manager, Andy Darnton, afterwards praised his side’s endeavour and commitment but admitted a lack of goals is a concern.

“It was extremely disappointing, we’ve conceded a soft goal again,” Darnton said.

“We’ve been very competitive this season, but the Achilles heel seems to be scoring goals.

“We’re creating lots of chances but we’re just not finishing them at the moment.

“We have tweaked it a little bit, it’s just a little bit of belief and I think it will click.

“We work hard on it in training every week, the worry would be if we weren’t creating chances and playing reasonable football.

“We’re playing ok football and we are creating chances, we’re just not putting the ball in the back of the net.

“We look solid in certain areas, we’re resolute.

“The centre-half partnership is working well and they’re growing and gelling together, the midfield is there but it is just the final third I’m afraid to say.

“We need to address that, and address it quickly.”

The Crusaders were without the creative influence of Jake Evans for much of the game after he was taken off injured in the first half, and Darnton suggests he’s set for a spell on the sidelines.

“Jake tweaked his groin, he felt it go,” Darnton said.

“We’ll get that assessed and see how long he’s going to be out for, he’ll be a major miss.

“He’s an experienced player at this level and he's big for us.”

Hungerford will be looking to pick themselves up ahead of a trip to eighth placed side Oxford City – who lost 5-0 at the weekend on 1-0 on Tuesday night - on Saturday.

Darnton said: “We’ve got three big games coming up now.

“It’s hurting in our dressing room, quite rightly so, but we’ve got to stay positive, we will bounce back.”