Another lead let slip as Winchester come back at the Bulpit to draw

Rob Brown made his Hungerford debut in goal replacing the injured Ryan Clarke and Brad Hooper was back in the side due to illness of Sam De St Croix

The pitch was in remarkable condition after recent rain as Hungerford started the game kicking up the Bulpit slope. It was after a dozen minutes that the first real chance came, Brad Hooper heading a Jack Alexander cross goalwards but it was easily saved by returning ex Hungerford keeper Luke Cairney. 5 minutes later Conor McDonagh fizzed a ball across the six yard box which fell to Elis Watts but charging in at full pace he could only hit it over the bar.

On the half hour mark the game was stopped for several minutes due to an injury to the official and only restarted after some swapping around meaning the assistant referee took over in the middle. After the restart Hungerford took full control and created chances. Rhys Tyler & Joe Shepherd both had efforts just wide but it took until the stoppage time caused by the break in play for Hungerford to take a deserved lead. Adulai Sambu with a defence splitting through ball picked up by Hooper who one on one with Cairney cooly placed it past the advancing keeper into the net. Just before the break McDonagh forced a save out of Cairney by now the Crusaders fully on top

Just after the restart McDonagh found himself clean through breaking Winchester’s offside trap but his chip over Cairney was scrambled away. Then Winchester had a great chance via the dangerous Wright who forced a terrific double save from Rob Brown. Straight back up the other end though McDonagh doubled the lead turning defenders left and right going into the box and finishing past Cairney for his 19th of the season.

With still over 30 minutes to go the game should have been sealed and indeed the lead extended, Watts, Sambu & McDonagh all had chances to make it three but as the clock ticked on and with Winchester changes Hungerford seem to sit deeper and deeper. Two ex Hungerfordians were now up top for Winchester and that always spells danger for Hungerford. Conor Lynch took advantage of a Hungerford error on 77 minutes to pull one back and Warren Bentley three minutes later had the freedom of Bulpit Lane to equalise. On both occasions Hungerford having ample chance to clear. In the end Hungerford did well to hang on only a goal line clearance from Berry-Hargreaves and a survived penalty appeal prevented a pumped Winchester taking the win. Headaches and problems to solve for Danny Robinson after a game Hungerford really should have won

Team : Brown, Tyler (c), Medford-Smith, Berry-Hargreaves, Wright, Alexander, Shepherd, Hooper, Watts (Stanley), McDonagh (Spasov), Sambu (Lopes)
Subs Not Used : Paget, Evans

Attendance : 347
Star Man : Conor McDonagh