Town Vets were back in action on Wednesday and were looking to get their season back on track after a disappointing defeat on the road to Chinnor A two weeks ago. The visitors to the Cinder Lane Stadium on a warm autumnal evening were the newly formed Abingdon Town Vets, who had moved across from last seasons runners-up, Oxford City.
Town knew this was going to be a tough ask, Abingdon had won their opening two fixtures without conceding a goal and had to at least offer an increased work rate over the visitors. Town started quickly and within the opening exchanges were awarded a free kick on the edge of the visitor’s penalty area, only for Paul Smith to strike his effort against the defensive wall.
Town’s preparations were hit in the fourth minute when striker Chris Roche had to be helped from the pitch after a hefty challenge and was replaced by Colin Yates. It was Yates who had the next Town opening, he gathered a through ball and attempted to lob the encroaching keeper, but failed to lift it high enough and the keeper gathered. Abingdon were gaining momentum and their play and movement off the ball was causing Town headaches, however their final ball meant that keeper Lee Ruddle wasn’t troubled.
With the half coming to a close, the Town midfield were starting to gain a bit of control and had a couple of half chances, first Yates made an excellent run down the right, beating the full back to cross for Pat Graham who looked odds-on to score, but an excellent challenge from his marker, saw the ball going wide. Paul Hulme who had an excellent game in the midfield, then found space on the edge of the penalty area, only to see his half volley go over the target moments before the half time whistle.
Town were nursing a few bumps and bruises from the first period, however, the spirit and togetherness was certainly back and the lads were determined not to let this game slip. The opening exchanges of the half saw both sides trying to get on the front foot and it was Town who found themselves with the first effort of the half on 55 minutes, when Smith on the left wing strode forward and drove an effort from 20 yards, just wide of the right upright.
Seconds later and another Town attack finally saw the deadlock broken as Hulme was the first to react 30 yards from goal, his touch took the ball past the last defender and he remained cool to slot the ball past the keeper. Town kept the tempo high and five minutes later it was 2-0. This time Hulme’s header split the defence and Smith broke the offside trap to finish smartly left footed and give Town a bit of breathing space.
The Abingdon heads had dropped and every touch or pass was met by a Town player, however with fifteen minutes remaining the visitors were given a lifeline as mis-communication saw a diagonal ball from the right, find the left winger unchallenged, who gave Ruddle no chance in the Town goal. This gave Abingdon hope and on 73 minutes, a free kick was headed over by the tall centre half and away to safety.
As the minutes rolled by Abingdon pushed players forward and this created space for Town to spring on the attack and Anthony McCusker’s neat interchange found Craig Gaynor whose excellent strike was forced onto the bar by the approaching keeper and away to safety. Moments later and with the game coming to a close, Gaynor again found himself into the penalty area and with attention from the visitors defender, was forced to the floor for what seemed a blatant penalty, however the match official had other ideas, who waved play on before the final whistle was blown for a 2-1 Town victory.
The Town Gaffer commented in the bar afterwards, “This was a proper Don performance, grit, determination, will to win and team spirit. We won Division One with that attitude and there is nothing stopping us from picking up silverware this season if we continue to show this desire, no matter who is in the squad. We knew it would be hard, the lads are carrying a few knocks and bruises from some hefty challenges, but the three points will help ease them a little”.
Squad: Lee Ruddle, Steve Pugh, Dave Legg, Damian Francis, Gary Sutton(c), Chris Pettis, Patrick Graham, Gavin Stevens, Chris Roche, Paul Hulme, Paul Smith, Colin Yates, Anthony McCusker, Craig Gaynor, Glenn Townsend.
MOTM: Paul Hulme (Sparked the side into life, scoring a great opener and assisting with the winner)
DOTD: Paul Smith (Marathon runner!!! Cramped up in both legs, then kicked Yatesy when trying to help him!)
Next Match: 10/10/18 – Witney Royals Vets v Faringdon Town Vets – CEO’s Challenge Cup
