A point for Crusaders – maybe a turning point

Hungerford left it late as Louis McGrory scored a penalty with the last kick of the game, to earn a point in their home game against Plymouth Parkway.

Hungerford and Plymouth were at polar opposites of form before they met at Bulpit Lane but it was the home side who started on the front foot.  Conor McDonagh just failed to take advantage of a spill by Parkway keeper, Mack Allen, but the gloveman managed to grab the ball at the second attempt.

Midway through the first half there was a controversial call when Curtis Angell slammed the ball into the net, after a Joe Shepherd flick on, only to be called offside.  This seemed to be a bit of a turning point of the half and Parkway pushed forward.

It was Rocky Neal who opened the scoring for Parkway.  He just managed to beat Luke Cairney to a through ball, and took it around the Hungerford keeper to score.

Hungerford almost equalised through Angell ten minutes later, when Angell met McGrory’s cross and headed powerfully towards goal but Allen pulled out an amazing stop to retain the lead for Parkway at halftime.

The best chance early in the half fell to Ramarni Medford-Smith, another McGrory cross was headed back across goal by Ty Duffus finding Medford-Smith but he could only head wide with the goal at his mercy.

Parkway could have made it two midway through the second half when Neal missed a free header six yards out but it was Hungerford who were still pressing forward.  They had to wait until late in stoppage time when Zack Kotwica was fouled in the box.  McGrory stepped up to convert the penalty and secure the point.

It was only a point but it has halted the recent run of defeats for the Crusaders and the relief in the celebrations that followed the goal could be felt.

Photographs by kind permission of Hungerford Town Football Club and Michael Harden Photography