Dartford 2 – 0 Hungerford Town

Dartford is never really a lucky hunting ground for Hungerford and the bad luck started before match day where an injury to Jed Ward and the unavailability of Eddie Breary meant a recall from loan of young keeper Matt Crowther, Hungerford’s third starter in goal in as many weeks. Despite this Hungerford started really well and Nico Muir found himself one on one with Joe Young in Darford’s goal in the first minute, but he could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Two minutes later Rhys Tyler drove a cross in form the right that looked to hit a Dartford defender on the arm, it would have been a harsh decision and certainly not the type of call Hungerford are getting. Dartford’s Luke Allen then went on a good run and was fouled by Gyebi just outside the box but the resulting free kick was blazed over.

In the 18th minute Jake Evans found the hard-working George Smith to set up a long range shot, it was well wide however. With Hungerford on the front foot an innocent clearance up field found its way to Matt Crowther who rushed outside his box to receive it, despite an easy pass to McGrory on he tried a more ambitious clearance that was charge down by Marvin Herchel. The Dartford player then had a simple finish into a wide open goal. For a game that was originally scheduled for December Hungerford were dishing out early presents.

After the opening goal the game became scrappy probably not helped by the referee stopping the play for what seemed like any contact to both teams frustration. This almost boiled over with an incident involving Muir and Dartford skipper Tom Bonner, who received a yellow card but then Dartford were allowed possession from a drop ball instead of a Hungerford free kick.

As the half drew to a close Crowther produced a good stop from Herchel and Curtis Angell who was limping from an earlier challenge almost got on the end of a chance in the box. Angell then had to leave the pitch with his injury and Ryan Jones made his debut from the bench.

Like in the first half Hungerford at the start of the second produced an early chance when Tyler got on the end of a Muir flick to shoot but it was an easy save for Young. Again the game was scrappy and stop start. On the hour Louis McGrory almost lit up the afternoon when a tremendous 25 yard drive was just diverted wide. A minute later a Ryan Jones cross from the right found its way to Berry-Hargreaves who was free and six yards out, but he could only shoot well over. Two golden chances in the space of three minutes as the goal shyness of the Crusaders continued

With chances and time slipping away as the game neared the end, ex Crusader Alex Wall who was now on for Herchel ended Hungerford’s hopes. A ball over the top found him running into the box and he finished past Crowther. Wall has a habit of scoring against Hungerford not a habit he had playing for Hungerford.

With that the game drifted to a finish. The win takes Dartford to third in the table, Hungerford produced some good chances but still lacked a cutting edge with only one goal to show in the last 5 league games.

Team: Crowther, Tyler, Angell (43 Jones), Gyebi, Bailey, Berry-Hargreaves; Evans (71 Lynch), Smith, McGrory; Allen, Muir (78, Thomas)
SUBS Not used: Rusby, Rollinson

Half Time : 1 -0
Referee : Ben Wyatt
Attendance : 952
Star Man : Louis McGrory