Nathan Hallam scored on his debut as Abingdon United Under 18s enjoyed an exciting 4-3 victory over Spalding United in the Football Youth Conference at Northcourt Road.

The tone for the match was set early on when Rob Johnson’s cross just eluded Pablo Haysham and Lewis Brown.

Spalding looked vulnerable at the b ack, but lively in attack – ensuring an end-to-end game.

Hallam headed Abingdon into the lead after 20 minutes, nodding home Jack Longford’s corner.

Luke Carnell then made it 2-0 after the break, following a fine delivery from Tom Conway.

Spalding's Liam McDowell pulled a goal back just after the hour, but four minutes later, Dec Hartigan headed home from Conway's corner to make it 3-1.

The visitors refused to lie down and Luke McManus's scrambled goal brought the game to life again.

Carnell's second goal appeared to have settled the game for Abingdon, but Owen Watson's 86th-minute strike for Spalding set up a tense finsh.

Abingdon Utd: Dalton, Midwinter, Carnell, Hallam, Cadle, Conway (Veal 83), Long-ford, J Johnson, R Johnson, Haysham (Hartigan 48), Brown.