I originally planned to head to Hungerford Town next weekend, but circumstances dictated otherwise, luckily a home FA Cup tie against Gloucester City meant a trip up and a chance for my girls to sample the wonderful burgers Town produce.
When I made my first visit in January this year, I posted a pic of the cheeseburger they do on my Twitter page (@trevk37) and the post went nuts! 292,000 tweet impressions at the last count, a picture of a burger, but boy they taste good.
But it’s not just about the burger, Patrick and Nicky Chambers who run the club, greet you on the turnstile and serve you the burger, well it’s the hospitality of a great little club just about holding their own in the National League South.
The content below was originally paywalled.
Last season they fell just short of the play-off’s which saw a number of players gain moves to clubs higher up, Hungerford is one of those clubs who can re-ignite careers that have gone off the boil, however it’s been a slow start for the Crusaders so far this year with only one win in their opening eight league games so today was a bit of welcome respite from that dogged form.
Their opponents were Gloucester City of the North division but once an opponent in the South and very good relations between the two clubs. After devouring the burger, it was a game played in beautiful Berkshire sunshine, the home side enjoying more of the early possession and a nice long throw weapon from wing back Curtis Angell causing a few problems in the Tigers penalty area, but Hungerford were a little tentative in front of goal.
The home side edging the game took the lead on 26 minutes, a nice flighted free kick from Ben Allen found the head of Leighton Thomas and the striker made no mistake for the opening goal.
The lead though lasted less than ten minutes, Owen Evans restoring parity with a good finish past Tommy Rees. That was the scoreline at the interval but shouldn’t have been as Thomas was put clean through and with a bit of indecision as to shoot, round the keeper or dink it over him an almost combination of all three saw the opportunity disappear and me to the bar for a pint and a Bulpit Beast, that had to be done this time around!
With a slope heading down the pitch to the clubhouse from the top end Town had the work to do in the second half although as per the first half the game was very open with both sides wanting to attack, mixing it up with balls over the top and trying some through passes as well.
The game’s turning point was on 70 minutes, a penalty won by Thomas saw Allen step up to take the kick, his effort straight down the middle at Brandon Hall and the keeper making the comfortable save.
Six minutes later the home side were to rue that penalty miss as the Tigers took the lead, Tre Mitford pouncing on a loose bouncing ball in the box for Gloucester’s second goal.
The task became even harder two minutes later as striker Niko Muir was sent off for a second yellow card, having already been carded in the first half for not retreating from a free kick.
With the home side having to commit more men forward to search for an equaliser it left gaps at the back and Gloucester made sure of their place in the next round in the final minute as Kieran Phillips strode through the back line and slotted home past Rees to leave the cup run dreams over for another year for the Crusaders.
433 were present to watch and whilst I didn’t hear any murmurings around me I did hear afterwards Patrick is getting a little bit of heat and when you think of the clubs in that division they’re competing against and some with double the amount of support, it’s short memory time as I’ve found out within my own club the last couple of weeks.
Their ’4 for a score’ offer where you get your entry, a pint, food and a programme I’ve yet to see better and yesterday saw 66 sales of that, the second highest ever since they launched the deal last season, they’re at least trying to do things right, I know a few groundhoppers were in attendance as well, I hope they took advantage of it.
While it’s been a tough start to the season for the Crusaders, I saw enough yesterday to suggest they’ll pick up soon, they created chances which you’d be more worried if they weren’t happening, just need a rub of the green I feel.
Of course, that might not happen and then the pressure does start to increase a bit more, I know eight or ten games is around the marker when clubs begin to look at making a change, hopefully it doesn’t come to that but I’m sure Dan Robinson is under no illusions he need’s results and quickly, doesn’t get any easier this coming weekend as leaders Ebbsfleet with eight wins from eight come to Bulpit Lane.
I’m sure a few of you have seen the Bulpit Beast and even tasted it, food done simply and tastes fantastic, and it’s here in all its glory.
