Robinson discusses Elis Watts departure after a well earned point for Hungerford

Hungerford Town manager Danny Robinson was pleased with a well earned point away at Walton & Hersham on Saturday.

His side went 1-0 up thanks to Kyle Tooze’s top corner strike in the third minute.

A controversial equaliser came in the 56th, with two potential fouls ignored in the build up.

Hungerford battled through to a hard fought draw, a decent result against the division’s sixth best side.

Hungerford sit 19th, with a game in hand on many sides above them.

They are, incredibly, only nine points away from Walton & Hersham, with everything to play for in a remarkably close division.

“Last year we got our backsides handed to us,” he said.

“They’re a top side.

“It’s one of the hardest places to go to in this division, and we were good for it!

“It was an excellent performance, we were gutted not to get all three.”

Many Hungerford fans questioned the standard of refereeing on Saturday, something Robinson has highlighted throughout the season.

“If it wasn’t for a certain man in the middle, we would have got all three,” he said.

“Although I couldn’t say that after the game, because I got in trouble a couple of weeks ago.

“The one that perplexed me the most was when Kyle Tooze was driving into the box.

“You could hear quite clearly, the defender clipped his ankles, he went down and got booked for diving.

“Why would he go down when all he had to do was square it for a tap in?

“They have the hardest job in football… but all season long the standard of officiating has not been the greatest.”

The new year has brought new players and new energy to Hungerford’s squad.

Last week saw the departure of young Welsh winger Elis Watts, who contributed 20 goals and assists last season, and has now joined third placed Gloucester City.

“He’s a fantastic footballer… one of the best I’ve ever worked with,” he said.

“A hamstring injury hindered him for about a month and a half.

“So we didn’t really get to see what we saw last year.

“But the group is more important than any individual. I have to have the right attitude at all times.”

Striker Dawid Regula also departed, having fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks.

“He turned up to play against Ascot United in the Berks & Bucks, saw his name on the substitutes bench and asked to go home,” he said.

“The way he went about it wasn’t great.

“But he’s more than good enough to play at this level.”

Meanwhile, left-back Curtis Angell has returned for a second spell, while 19-year-old central midfielder Jerry Lawrence has arrived on loan from Bristol Rovers.

“He started off the season at Bath City, then played against us for Yate,” he said.

“He’s a young, energetic midfielder who covers the ground, likes a tackle.

“With Brandon Curtis taking some time out of football, we had to act quickly.

“We have to thank Bristol Rovers, he’ll add something to the squad.”