3pm 26 September 2020
Hellenic League, Challenge Cup, First Round
Hazlemere Sports 1 Abingdon Town 3 (att 30)
I've got mixed feelings about the Hellenic League admitting first teams into its third tier divisions, which had previously been just for reserve sides. Effectively they're part of the seventh tier of non-League football, but they don't have that status from the FA and officially sit outside the pyramid.
Neat pyramids and spreadsheets are one thing, but in reality most clubs at this level just want to play football. This is Hazlemere's second season as a Hellenic League club and, in a division where many of their opponents are reserve sides, a league cup tie was an attractive reason to visit.
Abingdon Town are from a division above, and although they've had their struggles in recent years they have a long history. On the evidence of this match they have a young and skillful side this season, and are worth watching.
Hazlemere battled hard, but there was a gulf between the sides that the final score didn't truly reflect. The home side went ahead against the run of play thanks to a first half penalty. Abingdon Town were level before the break, but it took them until the second half to turn their superiority into a winning scoreline.
Hazlemere is close to High Wycombe, and seems to be favoured by the the red kites that I usually spot from the nearby M40. Dozens of the birds seemed to circulate overhead, with some dropping quite low over the roped off pitch at Hazlemere Recreation Ground. Perhaps they hoped to see a cup giantkilling, but it wasn't to be.
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