Late Penalty Heartbreak for Fleet at Abbey Rangers
Abbey Rangers edged past Fleet Town on Tuesday night to move top of the early-season table, securing their third consecutive win, by just a single-goal.
On a warm evening at Addlestone Moor, Fleet travelled for their first away league game of the season to face one of the division’s unbeaten sides. The opening stages were evenly matched, with neither team finding a clear-cut opportunity.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when a superb cross was met by TJ Taylor, who turned the ball into the net to give Fleet the lead. Just minutes later, Fleet had the chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot. Ollie Burke stepped up, but home goalkeeper Ollie Davies guessed correctly and pulled off the save.
That miss seemed to lift the hosts, who began to press for an equaliser. Their persistence paid off in first-half stoppage time when Brad Marshall unleashed a long-range strike that flew in to level the scores at 1-1 heading into the break.
The second half produced few clear chances, and as the clock ticked towards full-time, a draw looked the likely outcome. In the 90th minute, Abbey Rangers were awarded a penalty, but failed to convert, keeping the score at 1-1. However, deep into stoppage time – the second of what became nine additional minutes – the hosts were given another spot-kick. This time, Jake Beck-Nardoni made no mistake, putting Abbey ahead for the first time on the night.
Fleet thought they had equalised in the dying moments, only for the goal to be ruled out. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 defeat for the Blues, despite a battling performance.
Fleet Town starting XI
- 1 Sam Gray
- 2 Tom Drinkwater
- 3 Andy Matthews
- 4 Eoin Fraser
- 6 Liam Avery
- 10 Theo White
- 11 George Sellick
- 15 Finlay Warren
- 17 Lewis Hillary
- 19 Ollie Burke
- 20 TJ Taylor.
Subs
- 5 Joe Dyett
- 12 Brad Manning
- 14 George Maxwell (on for Warren)
- 16 Hadif Darwysh (on for Hillary)
- 9 Charlie Postance.
Fleet Town’s next scheduled fixture is on Monday night (18th) away to Sutton Common Rovers, but this is subject to any FA Cup Replay should Sutton Common Rovers only draw with Hayes and Yeading on Saturday in their Preliminary round fixture. (Sutton Common are the draw experts so far this season having drawn both their league games played and needed a replay to get past Guildford City in the previous round).
On Wednesday 20th Fleet Town Under 18 side are due to start their season, with an away match to Northwood U18 in the Isthmian Youth League (West Division).
On Sunday 31st following promotion, Fleet Town women are due to start their season in the Premier Division of the Southern Region Womens League at home to Southampton Women FC.
