25/3/00: Ryman League Division Three

Tring Town 1 Abingdon Town 1

Tring at least ended their run of home defeats, but they had to settle for a point against a team who have been one of the form sides of the division since the turn of the year.

It looked promising for Tring when they created the first chance of the match after five minutes. After a neat exchange with Mark Burfoot, Tony Oliver sent over a cross which Scott Walters met with a decent first-time volley, but Abingdon keeper Jason McLaughlin pulled off a good save.

However, it was Abingdon who went in front three minutes later. Liam Herbert got away from Neal Bartlett inside the box, only for Bartlett to push him over from behind. The referee awarded the penalty and Robbie Wyatt made no mistake from the spot.

Tring's game degenerated after that, and Wyatt could have put his side further ahead on 15 minutes when he broke clear, but Tring keeper Alistair Joslin saved well. On the half-hour Tring looked to have a legitimate claim for a penalty of their own when Rob McKane was pushed as he attempted to get on the end of Mark Underwood's cross, but the referee gave nothing. On 39 minutes Burfoot made a strong run from his own half into the danger area and crossed for Walters, who couldn't keep his header below the bar. On 41 minutes Joslin had to tip over a snap shot from the lively Wyatt as Abingdon ended the half on top.

After an interval dressing-down by manager Mick Vipond, Tring started to put some concerted pressure on the Abingdon goal, although chances were still hard to come by. The breakthrough came from a 55th minute free kick just inside the Abingdon half. Mark Underwood floated the ball into the box and Steve Boad got up highest to head his first ever goal for the club.

That should have been the cue for Tring to go on and win the game, but it never happened as neither side really looked like scoring over the last half-hour of the game. Rob McKane attempted to lob McLaughlin on 75 minutes but it was just too high, and Burfoot headed wide from in front of goal in the closing minutes, but in the end a draw was a fair result for two sides who can now just about consider themselves safe from relegation and start looking to next season.

Team: Joslin, Underwood, Simpson (Nevin), Bartlett, Beamish, Boad, Gerrard, McKane, Walters (Walsh), Oliver, Burfoot.