FOOTBALL: Abingdon are beaten again (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: Abingdon are beaten again

9:50am Monday 14th January 2013 in Football

Abingdon United scored for the first time in five games, but still lost at 2-1 home to fellow Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West strugglers Winchester City on Saturday.

A combination of poor finishing and an inspired goalkeeping display from Winchester’s on-loan keeper Ross Casey contributed to Abingdon’s fifth defeat in a row as they plunged closer to the relegation zone.

The hosts bombarded the visitors’ goal from the start with Carl Evans and Luca Riccio firing good chances over the bar, while Sam Tucker had his shot brilliantly tipped away by Ca-sey.

Winchester took the lead with their first shot of the game in the 39th minute, Liam Robinson sweeping the ball in from 12 yards after the ball was cut back to him.

Abingdon continued to set the pace in the second half, with Evans’s powerful header being saved by Casey.

Then with only their second attempt on goal, Winchester made it 2-0 in the 55th minute, thanks to a gla-ncing header from Ben Yela.

With substitute Steve Davis driving them on, Abingdon continued to carve out chances, and in the 75th minute cut the deficit with a spectacular 30-yard drove from Carl Self.

In a frantic finish, Nick Christodolou was denied an equaliser by another great save from Casey.

Abingdon Utd: Foster, Taplin, Halliday, Thomas, Baker (Christodolou 80), Evans, Riccio (Davis 60), Tucker, Kingston (Whitehead 80), Self, Nowell. Sub not used: Bourne.

Attendance: 71.