Robinson pleased with pre-season run-out as Crusaders hold higher level opposition to a draw
Hungerford Town boss Danny Robinson was satisfied with his side's performance in their 2-2 draw with National League North side Gloucester City on Tuesday night.
New signing Karnell Chambers opened the scoring against his former club but goals from veteran striker Danny Wright and Joe Parker turned the game on its head and saw the hosts lead 2-1 at half time.
However a late penalty from substitute Michael Fernandes salvaged a draw for the Crusaders after academy product Toby Thorp had been brought down in the box.
"I think it was positive," Robinson said.
"Playing a team like Gloucester City at their own ground is always going to highlight a few imperfections but that's what you want to see, because you want to get them worked on in pre-season.
"To a man tonight, we were very good.
"First half, we were good and I think second half, tiredness killed us a bit because a few of the injuries we have meant we couldn't make many substitutions.
"The big thing for me is that the players we have brought to the football club are buying into what we're doing.
"A Danny Robinson side has always got to have that never say die attitude and it showed right at the end when an academy product won a penalty for us to get a draw.
"Good minutes for people, learning more about the players each and every time we see each other and a very positive night."
Hungerford were relegated from the National League South last season after finishing rock bottom despite being spirited and competitive throughout the campaign.
The Crusaders were conspicuously lacking a goalscorer for most of last term and – perhaps less obviously – were short of a few leaders following the departures of the likes of Callum Willmoth and Keith Emmerson.
Tuesday evening saw former Swindon Supermarine striker Conor McDonagh lead the line – with the prolific David Bremang waiting in the wings when he returns to fitness – with former club captains littered throughout a squad that looks to have both more physicality and experience.
Robinson said: "I said right before the kick-off that this is probably the biggest side I've ever brought to Gloucester and that's without Matt Partridge, Sean Moore, Mike Baker and Great Evans who are all six foot plus.
"I've done my homework for the Southern League, I know it's a big and physical league, it's a very strong league, a tough league.
"We've got to stand up to that and we've also got to have quality.
"I thought Nathan Davis in the middle of the park was probably our standout performer and he's come from Step 5, it goes to show there's people out there that can step up.
"I'm very happy with where we are at the moment and hopeful we'll have a few of the injured lads back soon to make us even stronger."
Despite the departures of Kyle Bailey and Jerry Gyebi, Robinson looks to be well-stocked at centre-back, with Matt Berry-Hargreaves partnering new recruit Luke Carnell on Tuesday evening, Matt Partridge – although missing from the Gloucester trip with some tightness in a muscle – coming back from a long-term injury and the commanding Mike Baker signing from Yate Town.
Robinson flitted between a back three and a flat back four for much of last season but set up with a four at the Tiger Turf Stadium and feels he'll stick with the more conventional shape ahead of the Southern Premier League season opener.
He said: "I've always played with a back four, at Thatcham, Winchester and Alresford.
"We didn't get a lot of the ball in the National League and we had to defend for our lives so at times the three centre-halves made more sense.
"I feel like we've got the players now to go with a back four but we can always switch to a three if we need to."
The Crusaders trip to Gloucestershire was dubbed both El Pat-ico and the Hofmeister derby, with Robinson's side visiting former chairman Patrick Chambers' new club for the first time since his summer departure.
Chambers and his wife Nicky have a big job on their hands, with the Tigers reverting to part-time status in a bid to place the club on a firmer financial footing.
Hungerford meanwhile have Alan O'Donohue at the helm and Robinson – who had a close relationship with the Chambers – feels both clubs are moving in the right direction.
He said: "Gloucester City is a fantastic football club, a huge football club.
"Patrick and Nicky have taken on an absolute monster and if they get it right, which I'm sure they will, the club is only going to look forward.
"As for us, we've had a lot of turnover off the pitch and quite a bit of turnover on it.
"It's about being together, which we are, the new bosses have been absolutely brilliant with me.
"I just hope I can repay their faith and the club can have a successful season."
