Robinson confident 'goals will come' ahead of new season

Hungerford Town fell to a 1-0 defeat at National League North side Gloucester City on Saturday, July 16, but manager Danny Robinson is confident “goals will come”.

“Once again, everything was right until the final third,” Robinson said.

“I felt that we were quite comfortable within the game, after the first 10 minutes we were the better side.

“Their goalkeeper has pulled off a couple of good saves, one from Ben Allen and then another, I don’t know how he saved it, from Joel Rollinson.”

Gloucester’s winner came three minutes into the second half following an error from the Crusaders new goalkeeper, Mark Scott.

“He tried to Cruyff turn the centre forward, who read it, nipped in front and scored,” Robinson said.

“That’s what pre-season is about, we’ve got to get those mistakes out of our system.”

The defeat at Meadow Park means the Crusaders have failed to score in three of their four pre-season games; last season’s top goalscorer Ryan Seager left to sign for Dorking Wanderers, who were promoted to the National League in May.

“It’s not a concern, that’s what we work on in pre-season, I always say the last thing to come are goals,” Robinson said.

“We’re bedding 12 new players in and we want to get our shape right, get what we do off the ball right, and I know the goals will come.”

Hungerford have been without Adam Liddle, who signed from Walton Casuals in June.

The 22-year-old has National League South experience with Eastbourne Borough and Chelmsford City and Robinson is confident “he will make a difference”.

Hungerford host National League side Maidenhead on Saturday, July 23, and will face Salisbury, Eastleigh and Leatherhead before the season begins at home to Concord Rangers on Saturday, August 6.

Robinson, preparing for his third season at Bulpit Lane, admits he can’t wait to get started.

He said: “I’m a better manager when games mean something, when there’s points on the line or progress in a cup.

“You can’t quite replicate that competitiveness in a friendly, but they’re important and we’ve still got some tough ones to come.

“I can’t wait for August 6, I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Crusaders, who have the lowest budget in the National League South, have defied expectations for six seasons since their promotion in 2016 – with Robinson at the helm, there’s no reason they can’t do so again.