Crusaders defeated by Bracknell

It was a disappointing first Tuesday night game of the season for Hungerford Town as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at fellow Berkshire side Bracknell Town.

With just eight minutes on the clock the hosts were ahead when Joe Grant headed home a cross.

Ryan Clarke then tipped an effort over the bar, but the Crusaders quickly equalised just three minutes later. Fabio Lopes benefited from a piece of miscommunication in the Bracknell defence and used the bounce of the ball to lift his shot over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Bracknell though responded and regained their advantage when Nana Owusu slotted an effort beyond Clarke. There did appear to be a foul in the build-up to the goal for a push on Nathan Davis which allowed the Robins to gain possession, but the referee allowed play to continue and Owusu ruthlessly punished Hungerford.

Danny Robinson made an attacking change at half-time bringing winger Ellis Watts on for Davis, and it looked like the Crusaders had made a brighter start to the second half until Rhys Tyler conceded a penalty. Jordan Esprit sent Clarke the wrong way from the spot-kick, and it suddenly became too big a mountain to climb for the visitors.

In an attempt to get back into the game Michael Fernandes’s curling strike came close before Conor McDonagh spurned a good chance from close range.

Late on, Watts skied an effort over the bar from five yards out from a Curtis Angell throw-in.

Mike Baker was stretched off in another injury blow for Hungerford on what was an evening to quickly forget.