RYAN Curtin's late strike earned Abingdon United a 1-1 draw at Newport IoW in the British Gas Business Southern League Division 1 South & West on Wednesday night.

Abingdon started slowly and went a goal down after just ten minutes when Watson found the net.

That woke Abingdon up, with Mark Simms going close before a shot from Julian McCalmon fizzed wide.

In the second half, Curtin almost levelled after the keeper dropped a cross.

Anaclet Odhiambo then went close after great work from Michaes Herbert.

McCalmon thought he had levelled, only for his goalbound effort to rebound to safety off the Newport goalkeeper's head.

At the other end, Simon Tricker made a stunning one-handed save to keep Newport out.

Five minutes from time, Curtin equalised after Odhiambo squared the ball to him from substitute Ryan Brooks's cross.

Abingdon Utd: Tricker, Organ, Moss, Peirson, Ballard, Curtin, Ferreira (Brooks 65), McCalmon, Herbert, Simms, Odhiambo.

AN early goal in each half by Mark Simms set Abingdon United on course for a 2-1 home victory over Hanwell Town on Saturday.

The home side went ahead after five minutes when Anaclet Odhiambo got behind the defence and squared the ball for Simms to sweep it home.

Odhiambo scuffed a shot with only the keeper to beat, and then from a Jemaine Ferreira cross, saw his close-range goalbound header cannon off a defender's head and fly wide.

Ten minutes before the break, a Hanwell cross was pulled back from the bye-line, and Keith Rowlands fired past keeper Simon Tricker, but James Organ threw himself across the goal to clear the ball off the line.

At the other end, Odhiambo shot wide from a good position.

Minutes later, Odhiambo got round the defence again and unleashed a shot, but was off target.

Then Julian McCalmon was fed the ball after a slick five-man move, but his effort lacked direction and never threatened the goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Simms was on the scoresheet again.

Ferreira missed a good opportunity, but the ball was cleared straight to Simms outside the box, and he hit a screamer out of keeper Pratt's reach.

Odhiambo beat the keeper to a Simms cross and headed home, but was correctly adjudged to be offside.

On the hour, Hanwell survived two goalmouth scrambles following corners, while at the other end Tricker did well to save from Rowland.

The visitors captain Mills fired a dangerous free kick through the defence, but no striker could get a touch and the ball flew beyond everyone, but also inches outside a post.

Odhiambo was set up by Ferreira, but fired weakly straight at the keeper and soon after Hanwell pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when a cross to the far post was fired home by substitute Osuba.

Abingdon Utd: Tricker, Moss, Organ, Peirson, McCalmon, Herbert, Ballard, Ferreira (Brooks 82), Curtin, Simms, Odhiambo. Subs not used: McGlynn, Hayday, Davis.