HELLENIC LEAGUE: MANAGER Steve Wootton is still searching for his first Hellenic Premier Division points as his struggling Pewsey side took another battering at Abingdon on Saturday 8 March.

The visitors, without a league win in three months, were unlucky to find themselves two behind at the break, but might have lost by a bigger margin in the end as mid-table Abingdon attacked at will in the second half.

Wootton felt missed opportunities in the opening half had put paid to his side's chances of a rare win.

He said: "We had the better chances in the first half, but they have scored two good goals. Barry Flippance had one chance and Ross Anderson another, but things aren't going our way at the moment.

"We didn't perform in the second half and they were on top. Once we go a goal behind, the writing is on the wall and our heads go down.

"They could have had six or seven in the end and had a few one-on-ones with the keeper. It isn't a happy ship at the moment."

Wootton was also hindered by player unavailability on Saturday.

He said: "It is the same old story. Craig Wall and Dave Murfleet are both Army lads and got called away, while our goalkeeper Dave Hunt was on police duty at Fairford."

Pewsey went into Saturday's clash on the back of a 4-0 home mauling at the hands of Fairford Town, but should have taken the lead in the fourth minute when Ross Anderson saw his shot turned away by goalkeeper Carl Wilkins.

Abingdon duly punished the visitors in the tenth minute when Mark O'Hara's left wing free kick was headed home by Richard Pearson.

Captain Barry Flippance shot wide from 25 yards, while the impressive Tom Ritchie was foiled by Wilkins as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

Anderson then saw a cross flash agonisingly across the face of goal following a fine pass from Flippance, but Pewsey fell further behind just before the interval when Tom Smith's stunning 30-yard drive gave goalkeeper Paul Clark no chance.

Dean Moss beat Clark at his near post to make it three, and Pewsey survived a number of scares as the home side threatened to run riot.

Clarke denied the home team on several occasions before Moss netted his second of the afternoon with four minutes left.

Pewsey face perhaps their biggest game of the season on Saturday when second from bottom Wantage Town visit the Recreation Ground.

Said Wootton: "Saturday is a big game. If we lose, they will be three points behind us with games in hand. Hopefully we can get out of the woods.

"We don't know how many will go down this year, and it is all ifs and buts at the moment. If we can win three of our last nine games, then I think we'll be all right."