Stu Davis was at the helm for the trip to Winchester covering for Danny Robinson who is away on vacation. Davis went with Matt berry-Hargreaves at right back as Tyler, Paget and Stanley are all injured or unavailable. Zidane Akers returned up top replacing Dawid Regula who had a slight knock

It was the visiting side that started strongly and rather dominated the first half. Jack Wright had the first chance from a Louis McGrory corner but Winchester scrambled the ball away in the six yard box

Th opening goal came on 13 minutes from another McGrory corner this time he found Babz Jarra’s near post run and the centre back glanced a header into the far corner a well worked goal from the corner routine.

There was a long stoppage 5 minutes after the goal when Winchesters Dan Bartlett had to go off with a shoulder injury. Whe play restarted Jacob Bancroft ran clear down the left his shot beat Winchester keeper Cairney but was cleared again in the six yard box

Moments later Hungerford doubled their lead. Akers brought the ball down in the box and it fell to Elis Watts with his back to goal and a static defence he back heeled the ball into the net. A stunning finish from the player who is averaging a goal involvement every game.

Hungerford were now rampant and really should have increased the lead. Bancroft forced Cairney into a near post save and then Akers had Cairney beat but his shot went wide of the post

Deep into first half injury time however Winchester got one back from Kieran Douglas the centre back beating everyone in the air to beat Ryan Clarke, A terrible time to conceded as the referee signaled half time moments later

The second half started with another stoppage this time an injury to Winchester goal scorer Keiran Douglas perhaps the woes of a plastic pitch being demonstrated to the home side

Winchester seemed a lot more spirited in the second half perhaps buoyed by the combination of the late first half goal and no doubt a half time debrief from manager Craig Davis. It was on the hour they won a penalty when Jarra went into a challenge clipping the attacker. Keeper Luke Cairney is the Hampshire side’s spot kick taker and he sent Ryan Clarke the wrong way to equalise

The game was now totally up in the air and both sides pushed to win it. Akers had a great chance with a shot on the half volley but it went over. Bancroft and Watts were both treats out wide but Hungerford could not find their first half flow

In the dying minutes Watts played through sub Regula but his shot went straight at Cairney and it was not going to be Hungerford’s day. It will feel like points dropped for the Crusaders especially after dominating the first half

Team : Clarke, Berry-Hargreaves, Medford-Smith, Jarra, Wright, Hooper (Santos), McGrory, Shepherd, Watts, Akers (Regula), Bancroft (Softley)
Subs Not Used : Spalding Anderson

Star Man Jacob Bancroft