24/10/00: Ryman League Division Three

Tring ended their recent run of poor results with an excellent win against a team who had won their previous three league games. The result lifts them back up to third place in the Division Three table.

Tring introduced yet another new goalkeeper in Simon Bartley, and he impressed early on as the visitors created the pressure. But it was Tring who had the first near miss on 10 minutes. A long throw from Mark Underwood caused confusion in the Croydon defence, Scott Walters' outstretched boot diverted the ball onto the post, but nobody could convert the rebound. On 22 minutes Tring went close again when Steve Boad's header from Steve Harrhy's corner was tipped over the bar by the keeper. On 24 minutes Tring went in front. A free kick from Harrhy was poorly defended, and Walters was first to the loose ball and stabbed it home from close range. Croydon's best chance came on 28 minutes when Tyrone Myton raced clear of the Tring defence but hit his eventual shot wide of the far post.

Tring had to make a double substitution at half time after injuries to Mark Underwood and Lee Johnson, but it didn't affect their performance. They could have gone further in front on 55 minutes when Sean Sangster made a weaving run into the box before setting up Chris Gibson, who shot just wide. Three minutes later the visitors threatened again when John Fowler made a determined run into the Tring box, but Bartley dived at his feet to collect the ball. Bartley made another good save on 62 minutes to turn round a free kick from James Evans which had taken a wicked deflection. That proved crucial as Tring doubled their lead two minutes later. Alex Kinsley chased a ball down to the corner flag and put over a good cross. A poor clearance went straight to Marcus Davis, who composed himself before hitting a shot which was not the hardest, but was still enough to beat the static keeper.

Tring defended tidily after that, and their lead was seldom under threat as they collected a well-deserved three points.

Team: Bartley, Underwood (J.Gibson), Harrhy, Bartlett, Johnson (Sangster), Boad, Davis, C.Gibson, Walters, Kinsley, Beamish.