26/2/00: Ryman League Division Three

Tring Town 1 Camberley Town 3

Tring once again paid the price for their inability to put the ball in the net, as they lost a game that they should have had wrapped up at half time.

Tring started the game poorly, and fell behind in the third minute. A cross was headed back across goal for Clive Ventham, whose volley from six yards out was not the strongest, but still found its way into the corner of the net.

Gradually Tring found their way into the game, and began to dominate towards the end of the half. On 29 minutes Scott Walters came in to meet a cross at the far post, but placed his shot wide from inside the six-yard box. Five minutes later Walters miskicked when a cross from Fergus Nevin gave him a chance from point-blank range.

Keith McLoughlin was called into action for the first time in a while on 38 minutes to tip over a long-range dipping volley from Brian Johnson, but from the resulting corner Tring produced a superb counter-attack. The ball was cleared to James Armstrong, who held it up before setting Tony Oliver free down the right. Oliver delivered the perfect cross, and Mark Underwood arrived on cue to head home the deserved equaliser.

On 42 minutes Walters had another clear sight of goal, but was denied by the keeper. In the last minute of the half a Tring corner was headed out to the edge of the area, where Eddie Gerrard met it with a rasping drive that was barely inches over the bar. Another fine cross from Oliver found the head of Armstrong but the keeper saved again.

Unfortunately, Tring did not pick up where they left off after the break, and made another slow start. Camberley were scarcely better themselves, but went back in front on the hour with the softest of goals. Paul Harkness broke down the left, and from the left edge of the area hit a weak cross-cum-shot that somehow found its way under the hands of McLoughlin into the net. Harkness looked more embarrassed than elated as the teams ran back for the restart.

Six minutes later it was all over when Tring were caught square at the back and Harkness ran through to shoot past the advancing McLoughlin for Camberley's third.

Tring never really got going after that, and even the introduction of the veteran Gary Harthill could not get them back into the game, despite a few near misses over the closing minutes.

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