Crusaders on Claudio nine as new recruit Ofosu scores stoppage time winner
Hungerford Town picked up their first win on the road this season as debutant Claudio Ofosu’s stoppage time strike secured a 3-2 win at in-form Bath City.
The Crusaders arrived at Twerton Park having failed to win in eight, while Bath were unbeaten in four in the league – football is nothing if not unpredictable.
Ofosu signed from former Hungerford boss Bobby Wilkinson’s Weymouth in the week – he was an unused substitute when the Terras visited Bulpit Lane in August – and went straight into Danny Robinson’s side alongside fellow new addition Tyla Dickinson.
Dickinson, on loan from League One’s Wycombe Wanderers, became the fourth man in as many games to line up in goal for Hungerford in the continued absence of first choice stopper Jed Ward.
Starting on the bench was attacker Sammy Ompreon, who became Hungerford’s third signing of the week when he put pen to paper on a deal from Eastbourne Borough.
The Crusaders started well, Niko Muir hitting the side netting after Joel Rollinson’s cross three minutes in before Ofosu shot wide following a Jake Evans free kick.
Just 12 minutes in and the Crusaders took the lead when Niko Muir beat the onrushing Joe Wright to the ball, lifting it over the hapless goalkeeper and rolling it into an empty net for his first Hungerford goal.
Wright might have been the villain for Hungerford’s first goal, but he soon turned into Bath’s hero when he denied Louis McGrory and then Ofosu with two tremendous saves.
The Crusaders were made to pay for their missed chances in the 26th minute, the hosts equalising as 20-year-old defender Jordan Dyer rose highest to head home a leveller.
That was how it remained until after half time when George Smith restored Hungerford’s lead, connecting with a Jake Evans corner to make it 2-1 in the 46th minute.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Bath grabbed a second equaliser of the game when Rex Manning’s defence splitting through ball found Scott Wilson who slotted past debutant Dickinson in the Hungerford goal.
Dickinson then produced a crucial save, tipping Luke Spokes’ effort onto the post in the 75th minute.
With a minute of normal time remaining Bath had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Alex Fletcher went down under a challenge from Matt Berry-Hargreaves and it looked as though the game was heading towards a draw.
Hungerford had other ideas, however, and substitute Ompreon crossed to find Ofosu free in the middle of the Bath box, the former Hartlepool United frontman smashing the ball beyond Wright and producing ecstatic celebrations from the travelling Crusaders contingent.
Hungerford’s second win of the season moves them up one place to 21st in the National League South table, level on points with 20th placed side Dulwich Hamlet but in the relegation zone based on goal difference.
Boss Danny Robinson admits the overwhelming feeling is one of “relief” following his side’s 3-2 win at Bath City on Saturday.
“It was a long time coming, we’ve had some good performances but we haven’t been putting the ball in the net,” he said.
“We started well right from the first whistle and deserved to go in front.
“We conceded a sloppy goal which pegged us back but I thought first half we were the better side.
“We started off the second half like a train, but then we let Bath back in the game again.
“Relief was the main emotion when that winner went in, I thought on balance we deserved it.
“There’s no better feeling in life than a last minute winner, it doesn’t get better.
“I’m so happy for the players, they deserve everything.”
Robinson was quick to praise new man Ofosu as well as summer signing Niko Muir, who bagged a much-needed first goal of the season.
He said: “I’ve been an admirer of Claudio for a long time, when I saw he’d become available it was a no-brainer.
“I’ve got to thank Patrick, the boss man, for getting it done.
“He gives us something we haven’t had, he’s strong and direct, can go either way, he’s a wonderful addition.
“He comes into a good changing room, we’ve got good players, Niko’s one of them.
“Niko’s one of the nicest men I know, his general play has been good.
"He links the play, he's excellent in the changing room, he's been an absolute pleasure.
"I'm delighted for him, I hope he can go on a bit of a run now and build up some confidence."
Goalkeeper Tyla Dickinson became the fourth man in as many matches to start between the sticks for Hungerford following an injury setback for Jed Ward, Eddie Breary's recall to Oxford United and Matty Crowther's commitment to Woolton Bassett.
"It's the worst situation I've ever had in football player-wise," Robinson said.
"Jed was out for 10 days with a hip flexor and then was meant to come back for Dartford but he snapped a finger, so he's out for five to six weeks.
"Eddie went back to Oxford and Matty's been on loan at Woolton Bassett, it's important to me we honoured that."
Hungerford are in Berks and Bucks Cup action on Tuesday evening before a relegation six-pointer at 20th placed side Dulwich Hamlet and a chance to lift themselves out of the drop zone for the first time in a number of weeks – the Crusaders are looking up at last.
