Oxfordshire Sport
FOOTBALL: Wantage fight back for draw in derby
10:00am Monday 2nd January 2012
Brad Chalmers twice gave Abingdon Town the lead but hosts Wantage Town fought back each time to earn a 2-2 draw in Saturday’s Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division derby at Alfredian Park on Saturday.
The visitors had the better of the first half, with Rhys Denton striking a post before they took ther lead in the 37th minute with a bullet header from Chalmers from Lewis Gabbidon’s corner.
Graham Edney equalised from the pernalty spot two minutes before half-time after the assistant referee adjudged that Chalmers had handled the ball.
The second half saw Chalmers restore Abingdon’s lead, when his looping header, from Julian McCalmon’s free-kick, deceived goalkeeper Gareth Tucker.
Then Tucker did well to deny Anaclet Odhiambo.
Wantage continued to battle and their endeavour was rewarded with the equaliser in the 81st minute.
Edney broke on the left and squared a perfectly judged pass into the path of Richie Claydon, whose instinctive first touch drove the ball past Gareth Walker in the Abingdon goal.