29/1/00: Ryman League Division Three

Egham Town 0 Tring Town 0

Tring extended their unbeaten run to three games, but were disappointed not to take all three points from a game against a depleted Egham side who were forced to field 15-year old goalkeeper Nathan Owen with no other keeper available.

The early exchanges were scrappy, with the high winds not making it easy for either side to put together a series of passes. The first shot on target arrived 10 minutes into the game, with Egham's Justin Mitchell producing a good save out of Keith McLoughlin with a shot from the edge of the area. Soon after Scott Walters was denied from close range by the first of several impressive saves by the youngster Owen.

The game didn't come to life until the final five minutes of the half. Rob McKane was put clean through, but took too long over his shot and allowed Owen to come out and save at his feet, and a similar fate befell Walters when a pass from Mark Underwood put him clean through two minutes later. At the other end Mitchell had an equally clear shooting chance but put the ball over McLoughlin and the bar.

Tring were camped in Egham's half for the opening twenty minutes of the second half, but didn't produce enough chances to seriously test the rookie keeper. The clearest chance fell to Rob McKane on the hour, who was put clean through again, but again took too long and found himself surrounded by defenders. On one of the rare occasions when Egham got out of their own half, McLoughlin produced a great save to tip over a scorching shot from Paul Bennett as he latched onto a half-clearance from a corner.

In the dying seconds Marcus Davis had the chance to win the game for Tring when he found himself in another one-on-one situation, but Owen again came out to save to cap an outstanding debut and ensure that the game remained scoreless.

Team: McLoughlin, Underwood, Simpson, Bartlett, Gordon, Boad, Gerrard (Nevin), Beamish, Walters (Davis), Oliver, McKane.