26/9/00: Ryman League Division Three

Tring put their Vase exit behind them as they won their fourth successive league match to move up to third place in the Division Three table, although they made it much harder than it should have been against a Clapton side that were bottom of the league with no points.

The Clapton chairman revealed before the game that they had signed nine new players earlier in the day, although only three played in this game. Tring had the first opening when Alex Kinsley was put clean through on 5 minutes, but defender Martin Loe got back to tackle him just in time, although some thought the outcome should have been a penalty. Kinsley was clean through again on 13 minutes, but this time squared the ball for Mike Hemingway, who made good contact on a dreadful playing surface, but his effort went over the bar.

However, Tring were not making as many chances as they should have been, mainly due to poor passing and individual mistakes, and they were punished on 28 minutes. Clapton's Michael Johnson took advantage of a poor clearance, going on an unchallenged run into the box before sidefooting home an effort that barely made it through the long grass over the line, but was enough to put Clapton in front.

Tring's response was immediate. Sean Sangster beat the offside trap before rounding the keeper and slotting past the covering defender to put Tring level within a minute. Deep into first half stoppage time Tring showed how easy it should have been when Kinsley took a corner and Scott Walters headed home unchallenged to put Tring ahead going into the break.

Two more set piece goals put Tring in command during the second half. On 58 minutes Steve Harrhy swung over a free kick and Antony Beamish had little trouble heading home. Ten minutes later Mark Underwood delivered the free kick and again Beamish got on the end of it to head Tring's fourth goal.

However, two minutes later Tring were caught napping when Jason Smith made the most of the space he was given to lob Graham Milner from 30 yards, and in general the home side had much the better of the second half. Tring had the points in the bag, though, and given their appalling record on this ground over the last decade, that in itself was cause for celebration.

Team: Milner, Underwood, Harrhy, Bartlett, Johnson (Turner), Boad, Hemingway, Sangster, Walters, Kinsley (Davis), Beamish.