Hungerford lose play-off semi final

The marvellous, exciting run to the play-offs came to a disappointing end when the long trip to Truro proved “a bridge too far” and a late goal took the home side through to the play-off final where they will entertain St.Neots Town . The fact that it took the “White Tigers” until 5 minuites from the end to score the only goal of the game was due to our solid defence, even without the influential Matt Day, and a great display by Paul Strudley, whilst our forwards, well-led by Charlie Mpi could not break down the home side. We should have no regrets but give credit to Bobby and his team, both on and off the field, for their magnificent efforts to get as far as they did. We were all disappointed, but for Poole it was even worse, for they lost at home to Corby on Saturday when a draw would have given them the title, and then lost again to St.Neots who now visit Truro in the play-off final next Monday .Whilst the club made every effort to give the team the best possible chance of success, Truro, already assured of third place, were able to rest a number of their players on Saturday and thus improve their chances.
We started well and put the home side under pressure from a long throw from James Rusby, but Tom McHale saved easily, although he needed a second chance when he mishandled a shot from James Clark, but Paul Strudley saved from Matthew Wright at the expense of a corner which was headed off the line by Diak John and McHale headed wide in another attack but in any case was given offside. Mpi’s pace and mobiliity posed our best threat to the home defence and McHale did well to punch the ball off his head as he looked dangerous once more. Ed Palmer took all the Truro free-kicks but we survived safely until the interval
Strudley saved from Palmer again early in thre second half and full-back Shane White shot just past the top corner from the resultant corner, but we were still in the game and our counter-attacks always looked dangerous. Harry Goodger and Isaac Osei-Tutu were brought on the add variety to our attack but the home side still held on and eventually scored that vital goal after 85 minutes. Isaac Vassell, released from Plymouth Argyle last year, headed past Strudley and celebrated athletically with a couple of somersaults as the home supporters rejoiced.
It was good to see the Hungeford Town flag flying and thanks are due to a respectable number of supporters who travelled down to get behind their team even though they were outnumbered by the home supporters in the crowd of 820. So it is on to the Basingstoke Senior Cup and Southern Premier Division football again next season. A year or two ago, who would have thought that possible ?
Team; Strudley, Horgan, John, Boardman, Rusby, Pilling, Clark(Osei-Tutu), Collins, Mpi, Draycott(Goodger), O’Brien. Subs; Harrison, Stow , Rees.