Abingdon Utd 1 (Taylor 51)

Uxbridge 0

MattyTaylor's second-half goal ended Abingdon's depressing sequence of results as they dented Uxbridge's Division 1 South & West play-off ambitions at Northcourt Road on Saturday.

o This was Abingdon's first victory for 11 matches, stretching back to mid-December when they defeated Winchester.

This was an upset result as Abingdon had not lost in their previous seven league outings.

From as early as the fourth minute the home side showed their intent as Luke Holden fired the first of his many chances and then saw another effort blocked.

An acrobatic leap from Abingdon keeper Lee Farrow had him clawing at the ball following a free-kick which he diverted onto a post and out for a corner.

On the half-hour, a poor header from Jamie Shipperley sent the ball into the path of Holden, who struck his shot from an acute angle too close to the keeper Rob Bullivant.

Without time to get breath another chance fell to Holden as his run took him behind the rearguard but again he conspired to arrow his effort into the body of goalie once again.

The only goal arrived on 52 minutes when Jamie Brooks cheekily toed the ball past the next Uxbridge player as he came in to tackle.

Brooks's pace outstripped the next man and he found Taylor, whose first time shot deflected off a defender and found the far corner of the net.

Uxbridge stepped up the pace and only a late dive by Farrow prevented Neville Roach equalising with a snap short from 30 yards.

Abingdon came back with a header that went close to the far post from Tom Franklin from a Ryan Curtin corner.

Farrow made another save to deny Shipperley, who was generally kept in check by the Abingdon defence.

It was end-to-end stuff.

Tayor had an effort blocked by a defender, while vociferous appeals fron an Uxbridge penalty were turned down by the referee, who spoke firmly to the visiting manager.

With time running out Abingdon eased the pressure by taking the ball upfield and both Ryan Curtin and Micheas Herbert keprt the Uxbridge defence on its toes.

f=Helvetica s=6Abingdon Utd: Farrow, Meade, Weedon, Organ, Franklin, J Brooks, Malloy, Herbert, Holden, Taylor, Curtin. Subs not used: McCalmon, R Brooks, Moss, Beecher.

Attendance:109