Uhlsport Hellenic Div One West
Cirencester Town Dev    1
Abingdon United     1

CIRENCESTER Town's Development side played out a hugely-entertaining 1-1 draw at a blustery Corinium Stadium against a strong Abingdon Utd team who have aspirations of a quick return to the Hellenic Premier.

Abingdon began the game playing at a high tempo with the wind at their backs. They moved the ball quickly and enjoyed the lion’s share of early possession, forcing the Cirencester back four to defend deeply.

Lewis Meredith in the Cirencester goal was called upon in the third minute to make an early stop from an Abingdon snapshot from 10 yards, which was quickly followed by a tip-over from a 25-yard drive.

To the Devs' credit the defence held firm which eventually allowed them to start creating arguably the best chances of the half.

Sam Walsh had an effort cleared off the line by an Abingdon defender with the keeper beaten and a prolonged goal line scramble was eventually cleared by the same defender.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 40th minute when Walsh latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and rifled an unstoppable volley into the back of the Abingdon net.

Cirencester started the second half with the wind in their favour and quickly got into their stride. They enjoyed plenty of possession and pressed high to prevent Abingdon playing out from the back.

In the 51st minute a powerful shot by Sam Farr was pushed away by the Abingdon keeper. While opportunities to create chances came and went, this was probably as close as the Devs came to adding to their lead.

Meredith tidied up neatly behind his defence but was rarely called upon to make a serious save.

With 10 minutes remaining Abingdon decided to go for broke and made a double substitution, pushing a man further forward and going with three at the back as they went in search of an equaliser.

The gamble paid off with three minutes left when a teasing cross found an Abingdon substitute, whose powerful header beat Meredith.

Immediately Abingdon reverted to a back four to see the game out.

Overall it was a solid performance from the Cirencester Town Development side against a team who, particularly in the first half, were as good as any side they have faced this season.