Sports face a fight to make the top five

Abingdon United completed the double over Sports in Saturday’s UHLSport Hellenic League clash.

Skipper Graham Edney completed a hat-trick as Abingdon ran out 4-0 winners in Saturday’s Division One West clash at Addison Road where Dan Savin kept a clean sheet on his debut. Abingdon are now just one point behind Sports with three games in hand.

Sports had a couple of chances in the first half to have been in the lead but trailed to Edney’s opener at the break. The visitors had plenty of possession Sports had the better chances, Andrew Stidder shot straight at Savin and then pulled off a good save to keep out Sam Grant’s long range effort.

Abingdon broke the deadlock when Sports failed to deal with the advancing John Dennis and his cross found Edney who fired into the top corner from close range. Dennis shot into the side-netting and Siyanda Gila was denied Jack Goode at his near post.

After the restart, Josh Rose headed straight at Savin from a Leis Travers’ free-kick and Grant fired over after Tom Smith headed on Mike Spaull’s cross. In between, Sam Wharton shot over from a good position.

But Abingdon doubled their advantage when Edney converted from the penalty spot. Cian McCormack increased Abingdon’s lead, firing home from the edge of the box, after Sports failed to fully clear a corner and Edney completed his hat-trick from another penalty in stoppage-time.

Second-placed Hook Norton beat Cirencester Town Development 3-1.

Nathan Bott gave Hooky the early lead at The Bourne and Reece Bayliss doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. Bayliss grabed his second goal just past the hour mark.