FA Trophy Begins - Chalfont St Peter vs. Abingdon United

Crowd at Mill Meadow.

The FA Trophy began on Saturday and I made the short journey out of London to Buckinghamshire for Chalfont St Peter's home tie against Abingdon United. I'd always wanted to see a game at Mill Meadow as the name interested me. The hosts are playing their first game in the Trophy for several years following their promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League last season as champions. I have to be perfectly honest and admit that I didn't know anything at all about the visitors. All that I knew was that they are in Southern & West section of the Southern League and that they haven't had the best of starts to the season.

KO at Mill Meadow. Unfortunately you can't sit in the old stand.

Chalfont look to take the game to the visitors but the start to the game is very scrappy with both sets of players making mistakes in possession. Abingdon then begin to dominate the game and take the lead when the player heads the ball home after the ball comes back in to play from the cross bar. This sparks the game in to life with both teams attacking. The home side equalise when the tricky winger gets past his marker and the ball is eventually forced home from inside the six yard box. Abingdon then hit the bar for a second time from a long range free kick but there is unfortunately no one following up on this occasion. The hosts go in to the lead when the ball is headed home as a result of Abingdon not clearing a corner. Chalfont add another just before half time and appear to be cruising.  

First action with the stand in the background. I think I prefer the old one.

Abingdon reduce the deficit straight away after half time. After powering his way through the defence he slots the ball under the goal keeper. The game is now very end but neither keeper is seriously tested. Abingdon get their equaliser when they are awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge and the ball is smashed home from the spot. The game is now quite stretched and it looks like some of the players were beginning to tire a little. Then due to yet another poorly timed toilet break I miss what proves to the winner for Chalfont. Abingdon have a great chance to equalise in injury time when the player manages to sky the ball with the goal at his mercy. The game finishes 4-3 to Chalfont.

The Chalfont forward just misses this chance.

The ground is around a forty minute walk from Gerrards Cross Station but the A40 bus will take you quite close to the ground. Trains depart from Marylebone around every twenty minutes and the journey takes about 30 minutes. On the way to the ground I visited the White Hart which is a traditional pub and matches the feel of the village High Street. The club house is quite basic but is quite large and friendly. I had a fantastic turkey burger at half time which was the first time I'd ever seen one on offer at a ground! The journey back was made a bit more difficult by someone being killed by a train close to the station. This meant I had to get a bus to Amersham and then another train back in to town. 

Chalfont push on in the second half.