27/1/01: Ryman League Division Three

Another impressive away performance saw Tring pick up three more crucial points and move up two places in the Division Three table. Tring were without Lee Johnson, who was beginning a three-match suspension, plus Joe Gibson and Mark Burfoot due to illness and injury respectively, but the enforced team changes and two weeks of inactivity did not disrupt their form.

On an excellent playing surface, a far cry from the snow-covered Pendley pitch, Tring made the better start, forcing a couple of early corners. However, they found themselves behind after eight minutes, ironically from a set-piece tactic they often employ themselves. A long throw was flicked on at the near post and Danny Bishop connected with a powerful header which Simon Bartley got both hands to, but couldn't keep out.

Tring continued to look the better side, though, and began to put pressure on the Ware goal. On 14 minutes a header from Steve Boad was cleared off the line, and two minutes later Antony Beamish headed just wide from Alex Kinsley's cross. On 23 minutes Mark Underwood headed down a cross from Steve Harrhy to tee up Kinsley, but he volleyed over the bar. On 31 minutes James Armstrong ran on to Underwood's through ball and outpaced the last defender before slotting home a deserved equaliser. It was Armstrong's first goal for the club, and the first Tring had scored in five visits to Wodson Park.

Five minutes later Armstrong looked set to score again when he ran on to Beamish's chipped pass to beat the offside trap, but his chip over the keeper drifted agonisingly just wide. However, on 42 minutes a pass from Chris Gibson put Armstrong in exactly the same position, and this time his chip was more accurate, going in off the far post to put Tring in front.

In the last minute of the half Marcus Davis set up yet another chance for Armstrong, but his low drilled shot was just wide of the far post.

Tring went close again in the second minute of the second half when Underwood floated a free kick inches over the bar, and on 54 minutes the Ware keeper bravely dived to save at the feet of Davis when he had the goal at his mercy. However, that was the last Tring chance for a while as the home side fought back, keeping Tring pinned in their own half for long periods. Ware's best chance came on 64 minutes when Bartley and Beamish hesitated over who should deal with a long ball. Daniel Pitts nipped in to steal the ball and rounded Bartley, but Beamish got back to clear his shot off the line.

Tring's defence held out resolutely under pressure, and after three substitutions they started to venture forward again. In the closing minutes they could have increased their lead as a snap shot from Kinsley hit the post, and a shot from Mark Swales was saved by the keeper, but Tring had already done enough to claim another well-earned win.

Team: Bartley, C.Gibson, Harrhy, Bartlett, Armstrong (Cook), Boad, Underwood, Sangster (Swales), Davis (Hall), Kinsley, Beamish.