Crusaders drop points to dogged Didcot

Hungerford Town dropped crucial points in the Southern League with a draw against Didcot Town.

It was a fast start from Hungerford, and it took only four minutes for the Crusaders to break the deadlock. Joe Shepherd made a good run down the wing and his cross into the box was met by the incoming Sean Moore for his first goal in white and black.

However, the visitors responded immediately when they caught the Hungerford defence napping and Robbie Gallagher fired the ball into the net from a cut back.

The beginning to the game was frantic and Moore should have had his second of the afternoon when he was one on one with the goalkeeper and passed the opportunity wide of a post.

Conor McDonagh restored normal order on 21 minutes when a Curtis Angell long throw-in bounced to the back post and after a good save from the goalkeeper to deny Luke Carnell, McDonagh slotted home the rebound.

Elis Watts was a positive outlet down the left wing and the forward was keen to get on the scoresheet. His first effort on goal was well saved down low by Leigh Bedwell.

Watts then forced Bedwell into a one handed save to tip a long-range effort over the crossbar.

Moore also went for a spectacular finish and his dipping shot only narrowly went over the bar.

For all the home sides dominance it could have been two-two when Didcot won their first corner of the match and Cameron McNeill got up well and headed over a good chance. The visitors though did equalise on the stroke of half-time through Andi Noka’s finish.

The second half was played at a different tempo to the first half with Didcot, tweaking their tactics, seemingly happy to take a point away from Bulpit Lane.

Hungerford did not have the creativity to break down the visitor’s defence, probing hard but always thwarted at the final hurdle.
McDonagh had the only good chance of note when a succession of headers landed into his path in-behind the Didcot defence, but he sliced his effort wide of the goal.

In the closing exchanges, an Angell long throw-in came out to the edge of the box and Moore forced Bedwell into a stretching stop and the Crusaders could not find a late winner.