Hartpury FC suffered a 4-1 defeat to Hungerford Town at Bulpit Lane during their Southern League Div One South opening game, on Saturday.
Billy Osborn’s goal on the stroke of half time became just a constellation following a brace of goals in each half from the Crusaders.
The game started lively with Osborn unable to turn a close ranged effort home, on 2 minutes, before Prince Nwachuku volleyed home the opener for Hungerford a minute later.
Nathan Jenkins forced Ryan Clarke into a stretching save on five minutes, when his cross started to bend towards goal.
The Crusaders went close on 16 minutes when George Franklin headed effort from a long throw, looped onto the roof of the net.
Jenkins curled an effort just over on 19 minutes, after Sol Kent’s cross picked him out at the back post.
But the Crusaders doubled their advantage on 23 minutes when a clearance rebounded off James Clarke across the line, despite Cameron Walters best efforts to hook the ball clear.
Riley McGregor saw a tame effort well held by Clarke in the Crusaders goal, on 27 minutes, after Keon Sanniola teed him up 18-yards from goal.
Kent was on hand to deny Hungerford a third goal on 33 minutes, when he blocked a low driven effort six-yards from goal.
Drew Robinson tested Clarke from distance on 41 minutes but saw the effort well stopped, moments before Josh Roney produced an import block to keep out the Crusaders.
And right on half time, Osborn gifted the Acorns a lifeline when his header punished a parried Josh Roney effort, halving the Crusaders lead at the break.
HALF TIME – HUNGERFORD TOWN 2-1 HARTPURY FC
The Crusaders wasted no time reinstalling their two goal advantage when Nwachuku rose highest to head home, on 49 minutes.
Less than 10 minutes later, Ackeem Stewart buried a fourth for the Crusaders before Nwachuku blazed an effort wide shortly after.
Sanniola had a sight at goal on 65 minutes but could only loop his header into the hands of Clarke.
Jenkins blazed an effort over the bar on 77 minutes, following dazzling run through the Crusaders defence.
But that was all she wrote for this one, as the Acorns started the new campaign with a heavy defeat.
The Acorn are next in action on Saturday 29th August when we take on Exmouth Town in the FA Trophy.
FULL TIME – HUNGERFORD TOWN 4-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Robinson, Walters, Roney, McGregor, Aldridge (Preston 72’), Jenkins, Manning (Silva 85’), Sanniola, Osborn © (Cherchi 63’)
UNUSED SUBS: Kovacevic (GK), Symons
ATTENDANCE: 238
Written by Sam Yapp
