FA Cup exit for Hungerford Town

Bracknell Town and Hungerford Town played out a thrilling nine-goal encounter, with the hosts eventually overpowering their Hungerford visitors in a dramatic second half.

Bracknell got off to a flying start when Joe Grant was brought down in the box just four minutes in. Alfie Pavey stepped up and coolly converted the penalty to give the Robins an early lead.

Hungerford responded well and found their equaliser on 25 minutes. A long ball from Luke Cairney was headed back across goal by Ty Duffus, allowing Kyle Tooze to glance a header into the net. The Crusaders then turned the game on its head eight minutes later. Louis McGrory delivered a delightful cross which Ramarni Medford-Smith smashed home to make it 2–1.

But Bracknell wasn’t done in the first half. Five minutes later, Joe Grant volleyed in the equaliser after excellent pressing from Amartey and Herbert forced a mistake from Hungerford’s defence.

Hungerford came out with intent and retook the lead on the hour mark. Zach Kotwica played a square ball in midfield to Medford-Smith, who went on a solo run before unleashing a rocket into the top right corner from outside the box—unstoppable.

Bracknell hit back again. Francis Amartey turned past his marker with ease and squared the ball to Joe Grant, who was waiting in the six-yard box to tap home his second of the afternoon. In the 73rd minute, Bracknell took the lead for the second time. A simple ball down the left released Amartey, who brushed past Berry-Hargreaves and powered a finish past Cairney.

With Hungerford pushing for a late equaliser, they were caught out again. Teddy Tarbotton dispossessed George Smith on the halfway line and surged forward to slot past Cairney for Bracknell’s fifth. The Robins weren’t done yet. In stoppage time, Giovanni McGregor capitalised on more slack defending and fired in a sixth from outside the box to seal a remarkable win.

Hungerford have now conceded thirteen goals in three games as opposed to nine in the previous ten games, a worrying turn of form for the Crusaders. Come on the Hungerford!

Photo by kind permission of Hungerford Town Football Club