Crusaders hit Parkway for seven on opening day

Conor McDonagh scored a debut hat-trick as the Crusaders got their season up and running with a thumping seven-nil victory over Plymouth Parkway.

The game might not even had gone ahead was it not for the hard work of our volunteers as torrential rain threatened to call the game off. Fortunately, the game went ahead and our new adventure in the southern league begun.

Parkway started on the front foot and before Hungerford could start their scoring spree, Ryan Clarke made an outstanding one handed save to claw away Jack Crago's header. The game changed from that moment as Hungerford cleared the ball up field and the ball looked to be going straight through to Corey Harvey, however the goalkeeper had a miscommunication with teammate Callum Hall over who took charge of the situation and Harvey’s clearance rebounded straight off Hall and into the path of Michael Fernandes who took full advantage of the mix up to pass the ball into an empty net.

The visitors responded well, and Matt Wright headed Joe Belsten's cross narrowly wide. However, they could not contain Hungerford's towering centre-back Luke Carnell from set-piece situations. Carnell profited and provided on two occasions in quick succession. He guided Matt Berry-Hargreaves' cross home before winning the first header from a corner to tee up McDonagh to score and make it three-nil. Joe Shepherd also glanced a header wide in a good chance to make it four. Fernandes was giving the Parkway back-line a torrid afternoon and Oscar Halls could only stop him with a late challenge and a yellow card.

The goals shell shocked the visitors but a half-time debrief and kicking down the slope in the second half meant a comeback could still be on the cards for a side who had shown some attacking promise. Anything said at half-time though was quickly thrown out the window just 10 seconds into the half when captain Ryan Lane was sent off for a late two footed challenge. Hungerford quickly added to the score line to put the game beyond their opponents. McDonagh brought down a free kick, turned his marker and produced a calm finish past the goalkeeper before he completed his hat-trick past the hour mark from the penalty spot. Crago had handled the ball from a Sean Moore cross and McDonagh confidently converted, sending Harvey the wrong way.

Hungerford were oozing confidence and showing a ruthless streak to get more goals. Harvey made a good stop with his legs to deny Fernandes' strike, but it was soon six. Substitute Elis Watts was quickly on the act with a curling strike after sitting a defender down in the box. Fernandes added a seventh with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. The Crusaders were to also finish the game with ten men as Moore received a second yellow card for a late charge into the goalkeeper, but it made no difference as Hungerford started the new season in spectacular fashion.

The Crusaders make their first away trip of the season to Chesham United next Saturday, August 12th, 3PM kick off.