31/10/00: Ryman League Division Three

Tring went to the top of the Division Three table with this win, although this was a far from impressive performance against a team who had conceded 17 goals in their last three league games. Tring welcomed back Lee Johnson after injury, but were still missing the injured Mark Underwood and the suspended Steve Boad and Antony Beamish.

The first half was something of a non-event, with Tring having most of the possession but hardly creating a chance worthy of the name. Midway through the half Alex Kinsley was put clear on two occasions, but both times was denied by a last-ditch saving tackle before he could get a shot in. Neither keeper had a serious save to make.

In the second half Tring had even more of the territorial advantage, but again brave defending from Chalfont kept their goal attempts to a minimum. On 50 minutes Mark Swales got a glancing touch to a corner but the keeper saved, and on 73 minutes another effort from Swales was cleared off the line by a defender. The match was decided by a rare moment of skill eleven minutes from time. Substitute Marcus Davis received the ball on the left edge of the penalty area, and showed some good close control to sidestep a defender before flighting a chip over the keeper to the immense relief of most people in the ground.

Tring did start to get a few more shots in as Chalfont committed more men forward, and one effort struck the bar, although they were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men five minutes from time when a very strong challenge from Tony Cook only received a yellow card. In the end Tring were happy just to get the three points.

Team: Bartley, J.Gibson, Harrhy, Bartlett, Johnson, Cook, C.Gibson, Sangster, Walters (Sissons), Kinsley (Davis), Swales.