Match Preview – Wednesday 20th March 2019 – Abingdon Town Vets v Faringdon Town Vets

It’s Uhlsport Hellenic League CEO’s Challenge Cup Semi-Final week for the Vets as we travel to Culham Road, Abingdon, OX14 3HP to face Abingdon Town Vets. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

The hosts are the form side of the Premier Division, having lost just once all season and winning the other ten league and cup fixtures. Their one defeat was inflicted by The Don, when we faced them at The Cinder Lane Stadium in September, beating them 2-1 in a fast paced, entertaining fixture, with Paul Hulme and Paul Smith putting us 2-0 ahead on the hour, before Paul Douglass scored in the closing stages to cause some squeaky bum time!

They are scoring goals for fun and are averaging 3.6 goals per game, finding the net 40 times in league and cup, whilst only conceding an average of a goal a game. Their danger men are Ross Tabor (11 in 9 games) & Douglass (7 in 9 games), so the Town backline will need to be on their toes to keep those two at bay.

Town’s form has picked up of late, with two tight league victories over Chinnor A & Witney Royals. Paul Hulme has hit a rich vein of form and will no doubt be a player to watch for the home side, having notched six times in eleven league and cup ties.

We go into the tie as underdogs having met the same squad (they were Oxford City) at this point in the competition last season, losing 1-0 in a very tight affair. We again have nothing to lose and the lads will want to extend their season for a further match and reach their first cup final as a group of players. Town have a full squad to pick from and unfortunately, there are some disappointed players who haven’t been selected this week.

It would be great if the Town following could be there in force for the match and all support would be gratefully received.

Squad From: Lee Ruddle, Gary Sutton, Dave Legg, Chris Roche, Andy Lynham, Steve Pugh, Glenn Townsend, Chris Pettis, Phil Thompson, Troy Redman, Paul Smith, Anthony McCusker, Colin Yates, Ben Spencer, Damian Francis, Paul Hulme