New signing Claudio Ofosu scored a dramatic injury time winner to earn the three points in a game Hungerford dominated for large spells.
With debuts for Ofosu and keeper Tyla Dickinson perhaps some new life was breathed into the Crusaders at Bath. Early on Hungerford were on the front foot a Joel Rollinson run and cross found Nico Muir but his shot from a tight angle only found the side netting. Ofosu was already looking a threat and on ten minutes a Jake Evans free kick found him just outside the box but he could only shoot wide.

These were only half chance however and two minutes later Bath were the masters of their own demise as their keeper Joe Wright rushed out of his box, but Nico Muir beat him to the ball. Muir chipped it over the advancing keeper and then kept his cool to pass the ball into the empty net. His first goal for Hungerford and a deserved lead for Hungerford’s start. Wright may have been the villain for the goal but he turned himself into Bath’s hero with two tremendous saves from Louis McGrory and Ofosu, who seemed to be everywhere, soon after.

With those glorious chances saved Bath punished the crusaders when a 26th minute corner was headed in by Jordon Dyer to equalize. In recent games Hungerford have reacted badly to a set back but not this time as after the equalised McGrory and Evans both went close again denied by Wright tipping their shots over the bar. Indeed the last action of the half was Rollinson forcing yet another save from Wright.

There was nothing Wright could do at the start of the second half however when, George Smith headed in a Jake Evans corner. Smith has been left unmarked and Evan’s inswinging delivery was flicked into the net by Smith as Hungerford regained the lead. Hungerford buoyed by this had a penalty shout turned down as Rollinson went down in the area and then Evans produced another save from Wright.

Bath were looking a lot more threatening in the second half than they did in the first and halfway through the second half produced a great move when Rex Manning’s defence splitting through ball found Scott Wilson who finished past Dickinson. With the scores level again it was going to be a difficult last 20 minutes or so for the visitors. They had chances through Frear and Spokes but both efforts were saved by
Dickinson the second one pushed onto the post for a corner.

As the game neared injury time, Jake Evans had a shot which was well over but then Bath went up the other end on the attack. Fletcher made a run into the box and went down theatrically under Matt Berry-Hargreaves challenge. The referee waved away Bath’s desperate pleas for a spot kick. Hungerford are never a side that settle for a point and so it proved to be again. Substitute Sammy Ompreon also on for his debut, produced a great cross in the 92nd minute finding Ofosu, who it seemed had the freedom of the city of Bath, in the area to finish and send the Crusaders into delirium with the winner.

Danny Robinson said post match the win was fully deserved and reward for all the team efforts on and off the pitch in recent weeks.

Team: Dickinson; Tyler, Jones, Bailey, Berry-Hargreaves; Smith, McGrory (85, Rusby), Evans, Rollinson (77, Lynch); Ofosu, Muir (72, Ompreon) SUBS Not used: Allen, Gyebi

Half Time : 1 - 1
Attendance: 1075
Star Man: Claudio Ofosu