Play-off heartbreak for Hungerford

[caption id="attachment_33178" align="alignleft" width="345" caption="Jon Boardman - controversial penalty"][/caption]

HUNGERFORD'S promotion dream ended in heartbreak fashion in Tuesday night when their second half onslaught fell just short of producing a memorable comeback and a place in Monday's Evo Stik League Division One South and West final.
They trailed 2-0 at half-time - the second goal a highly dubious penalty - but swept back the favourites after the interval to leave them hanging on desperately for 45 minutes to earn a home decider with Gosport Borough.
"They are the best side in the league but we battered them for 45 minutes," said manager Bobby Wilkinson.
Hungerford had struggled to find their form in the first period as Poole unleashed a frenzied opening. But they survived comfortably enough until the 25th minute until Dan Cann's long throw found Michael Walker challenging Chay Morris before Carl Preston stabbed the ball home at the near post.
The penalty came out of nothing, the ball finding Preston on the right where he drove it back towards a crowded area where Diak John blocked side-on. But referee Andrew Newell awarded the penalty in stunned silence, and Jon Boardman was booked for protesting before Steve Devlin scored from the spot five minutes before the break.
But Hungerford dominated the second period and were back in it after 84 seconds when Dean Stow's whipped cross was tucked in by Luke Hopper.
Mark Draycott had an equalising chance shortly afterwards but Nick Hutchings got down to his shot and continued to thwart Hungerford as they threw everything at the hosts.
Hopper had another chance, as did Reece Fleet, and when Hutchings threw himself to his right to tip out a Ryan Crockford free kick just before the end, it signalled massive wave of relief for the home side.
Hungerford Town: Morris; Stow, Boardman, Day, John; Pedder (McClellan), Fleet, Davis (Ogbanufe), Jack; Draycott (Crockford), Hopper. Subs: Stuart Wood, Brown.