16/9/00: FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

Tring face another FA Cup replay this coming Tuesday night after coming away from Ely City with a draw in Saturday's match despite having twice taken the lead.

There was little to choose between the two sides throughout the match, with both having their fair share of chances. Tring's Billy Davies was the first goalkeeper tested; on 6 minutes he had to turn a long range effort from Andy Moye around the post. Tring's first near miss came on 20 minutes when Marcus Davis picked up the ball just outside the box and struck a shot which the goalkeeper left, thinking it was going wide, but was surprised when it came back off the post. On 26 minutes Tring went close again when Scott Walters got on the end of Alex Kinsley's corner with a header that produced a good save from the keeper.

Tring went ahead on 33 minutes with another impressive goal from Kinsley. He brought down and controlled a long ball from Neal Bartlett, sidestepped the last defender and struck a low drive past the keeper for his fourth goal of the season.

However, the home side struck back with an equally direct goal two minutes before the break. As Tring were pressing forward Moye intercepted a pass and sent the ball sixty yards into the run of Mark Hipwell, who got the better of Bartlett and fired past Davies. Tring complained that Hipwell had controlled the ball with his hand, but the referee was having none of it.

The second half continued in a similarly even fashion. On 58 minutes the Tring defence was caught square by a pass to Mathew Eden. Davies came out to block Eden's shot, and as Simon Mead put the rebound back towards goal, Lee Johnson headed off the line. Four minutes later the home side were reduced to ten men; Scott Johnson's fierce tackle on Phil Turner being his second bookable offence. Chances were still occurring at both ends, with Davies at full stretch to keep out a couple of long range Ely shots, and the home keeper having to stop a close range effort from Steve Boad. However, he had no chance on 74 minutes when Boad connected with Mark Underwood's corner with a perfect header to put Tring back in the driving seat.

Tring initially threatened to go further in front, but the Tring management were disappointed at the way their side failed to pass the ball and keep possession while they held the lead with a man advantage. They began to come under increasingly heavy pressure, which culminated in an Ely equaliser five minutes from time. A long throw into the box was not cleared, and Mike Egan pounced inside the six yard box to level the scores and set up Tuesday night's replay.

Team: Davies, Underwood, Denniss, Bartlett, Johnson, Boad, Turner (Gibson), Sangster, Walters (Hall), Kinsley, Davis (Hemingway)