Hungerford started their fourth season in the national league south with defeat away to promotion hopefuls Hemel Hempstead. Hemel looked a strong outfit under new manager Sammy Moore whilst opposite number Ian Herring has lots of work to do before Tuesdays Berkshire derby with Slough.
The hosts were positive from the start with Sam Ashford testing Adam Sivitar inside three minutes before a big penalty shout was waved away by referee Isaac Searle for an adjudged push on Jack Midson in the box. Louis McGrory shot wide in the visitors first chance of the afternoon but chances were to be too few and far between as proceedings progressed. Sivitar kept the scores level with a reflex save to deny Tyrone Sterling's awkwardly deflected cross. Just minutes later the deadlock was broken, made by the effective work of Midson. Liam Nash provided the finishing touch. However, the lead lasted just seven minutes as James Rusby headed in from a corner. Just three minutes later, the hosts retook control of the match. A long ball forward caused problems for the Crusaders backline allowing the pacey Ricardo German, on loan from Crawley Town, to round the onrushing Sivitar and pass the ball into an empty net. James Constable set up Joe Tomlinson to go close as the visitors searched for an equaliser immediately. Mike Jones then forced Sam Beasant into his first save before Hemel quickly broke and German hit the post. Ashford tested the goalkeeper once more before half time and Marcus Johnson-Schuster stopped it from being three - one when he cleared off the line.
After the interval, the Tudors completed the win with the decisive third goal. Lively winger Nash was again involved, setting up Isaac Galliford for a tap in. Midson tested Sivitar before Galliford passed wide, created again by the trickery of Nash. Despite having to score two goals to get back into the contest Hungerford dominated the ball but did very little with it. Constable and Liam Ferdinand had little service up front and winger Zidan Akers had little opportunity to show his spark. The Vauxhall road crowd, of 416, saw one more goal from there star performer Nash before the final whistle was blown. Todays match shows how tough and competitive this league will be this year. Hemel got off to the perfect start for there ambitions of a play off push even without striker Alex Wall. Hungerford have been shown how crucial home form will be this year. Slough visit Bulpit Lane on Tuesday night (K.O 7.45PM) as Ian Herring will want to get three points on the board as early as possible.