Hungerford win secures 4th place

We ended the season on a winning note, coming back from a goal down to beat Paulton Rovers, for, although we were virtually assured of a play-off place, this result kept us on 4th. place with the doubtful privilege of a trip to Truro on Tuesday evening to follow. Whatever the outcome, this has been a magnificent effort and every praise is due to Bobby and his team.
We started this game rather lethargically and Paul Strudley had to race off his line to stop Sam Teale in an early attack, but the visitors took the lead after only 7 minutes, taking advantage of some slack marking for Clayton Green to easily beat Strudley.
We soon heard that St.Neots were a goal up at Frome,and 4th. place seemed a distant prospect, but Alan O’Brien broke clear but his cross was too long and spelled no danger and when James Clark sent Mark Draycott through, a defender deflected his shot wide for an unproductive corner.
We equalized only 5 minutes after the half-time break when Draycott forced a corner, Matt Collins sent it curving into the goalmouth, and after a hectic scramble in front of goal, Gary Horgan got the touch to slide the ball past Kyle Phillips. W had a chance to take the lead almost immediately when O’Brien’s cross earned us a penalty, but incredibly, Draycott’s spot kick was saved and the rebound blasted over. Without a goal for almost two months, the skipper must have been devastated, but he broke the long drought with a marvelous goal to give us the lead, volleying home Charlie Mpi’s cross in spectacular fashion in the 72nd.minute.
Phillips saved well from Mpi and then somehow saved the ball with his legs after Mpi had slipped it past him for what looked like a certain goal, but the visitors were beaten by now and we ended the game on top of
sturdy and determined opponents, who had nothing to play for but their pride.
Team; Strudley, Horgan,John, Boardman, Rusby, Rees, Clark(Pilling)Collins(Goodger) Mpi, Draycott, O’Brien(Osei-Tutu) Subs;Stow, Harrison.,
.