ABINGDON United faded after a bright start and lost Saturday's Division 1 South & West mid-table battle 2-1 at Northcourt Road.

The home side took the lead after only nine minutes.

Following a foul on Richard Peirson, Ryan Curtin netted with a curling free-kick, which went round the defensive wall and found the bottom corner of the net.

Julian McCalmon then put in Jermaine McSporran, but his shot on the turn whistled past an upright.

Hillingdon pressed for the equaliser. And after Mark Kirby headed inches past the far post, they levelled.

A Yannick Yala shot was parried away by Abingdon keeper Chris Peck, but it rolled along the six-yard box for an easy tap-in for Leon Nelson.

Within three minutes, Borough were in front as Chris Hibbs took a free kick from outside the area. With the same precision as Abingdon's earliereffortk, he netted into the bottom corner.

There followed a long period of stalemate before the game livened up in the last half-hour.

A pinpoint ball over the top found McSporran, but the striker put his shot inches wide.

Micheas Herbert had a fierce drive fly inches over as United looked to get the equaliser.

McSporran was denied by a great save from Ben Harris, who then tipped away Herbert's curling shot.

Abingdon Utd:

Peck, Abbasi (Ferreira 80), Organ, Ballard, Davis, McCalmon, Alexis, Herbert, Peirson, McSporran, Curtin (Brooks 70). Subs not used: Lewis, Tricker.

Attendance:

81.