Premier Division
Abingdon United 1 Didcot Town 4
Saturday, 18 January 2003
Abingdon didn?t seem to have the passion that you expect when these sides meet and Didcot were able to exact revenge for their defeat 3 weeks ago at Loop Meadow
The first half an hour saw tight play mainly in midfield with the forwards probing for openings but finding none. The visitors were playing the flowing football but still neither keeper had anything to do at this stage and it was obvious why both sides have had mixed results of late. The pattern altered in the 32nd minute when a shot was drilled in which hit the arm of a United defender and a penalty was awarded. Cooper stepped up to dispatch the ball into the bottom corner. Town with this boost immediately upped the tempo and McNamara had a fierce 25 yard drive fly by the post. Just before half time Town got the all important score for a two goal cushion at the break. Abingdon failed to clear their lines and the ball came back into their area with a cross to the back post that was met by Concannon who stooped to guide the ball home with his head.
Half Time: 0-2
Didcot came out after half time and finished the match off when Concannon doubled his tally in the 48th minute. Abingdon were caught in a scramble and Concannon was on hand to put the ball away. Didcot were playing the better football but at last United started to get into the game. On the hour Marriott headed back across goal and Dean Moss slid in but the home keeper was down well to turn it around the post. Within five minutes it was a repeat as he saved again from Moss who should have scored from six yards out. These were misses that United could not afford. With quarter of an hour to go Newport hit a curling free kick that fooled everyone, possibly thinking it was going wide and it flew into the bottom corner. United brought on some substitutes and Ridley started to create problems for the visiting defence and when he received a knock on the head inside the area it was United?s turn for a penalty. Mark O?Hara smashed straight the ball into the roof of the net for a consolation goal for the home side. As the match reached the end Marriott forced a good save from the Town keeper and Ridley had an effort disallowed for offside but it was more likely Didcot had eased off as much as Abingdon had tried to salvage some pride from the affair.
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