3/2/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring were denied all three points by a last-gasp equaliser, although in truth a point is the least that the visitors deserved as Tring turned in a disappointing performance, particularly in the second half.

Things looked much better initially, as Tring took the lead after just 11 minutes. Mark Underwood swung over a corner from the left, and Marcus Davis exploited the lack of height in the Dorking defence by rising highest to head home at the near post (see photo on left)

It should have been two on 17 minutes. Alex Kinsley's cross-field pass found Davis, who knocked the ball back across goal into the path of James Armstrong, but Armstrong shot wildly over with only the keeper to beat. Another chance came on 21 minutes when Underwood's cross was met by a poor defensive header straight to Kinsley, whose first-time volley went just wide.

Tring keeper Simon Bartley had little to do in the first half, but pulled off an outstanding save on 29 minutes. Gary Syrett's shot took a deflection and looked to be looping into the net, but Bartley backpedalled and kept the ball out one-handed. Tring went into the break with only a one-goal lead from a half in which they were the better side.

The second half was a completely different affair. Early pressure from Dorking resulted in a corner on 53 minutes which was headed clear to the edge of the area, where Kieran Philpott met it with a shot through a crowd of players which Bartley did well to save. Tring went close on the hour when Davis curled a free kick around the wall but just wide of the post, but that was a rare respite from a barrage of Dorking pressure.

The problem was Tring's inability to hold the ball up front. Every time they cleared the ball into the opposition half, possession was quickly lost and Dorking came straight back with another attack. The dangerous Philpott forced Bartley into another save on 65 minutes with a good shot after a purposeful run, as the Tring defence was forced to deal with a constant wave of attacks.

Three minutes from time Tring could have sealed the win on a rare foray forward when Kinsley's deep cross was heading into the net until the keeper just got across to palm it away. In the last minute of normal time a miraculous goal-line clearance from Joe Gibson kept Tring in front, and it looked as though they had done just enough to hang on.

However, four minutes into stoppage time came one Dorking attack too many. Adrian Moses got the ball across and Stuart May was there to knock the ball in from close range to the delight of the small but vocal contingent of travelling supporters. Although Tring could scarcely afford to drop the two points, few people in the ground would deny that justice had been done.

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