6/2/01: Ryman League Division Three

Witham Town 2 Tring Town 0

Tring let another three crucial points slip away last night as they crashed to a frustrating defeat on an Essex mudbath. A heavy shower just after the Tring party had arrived put the match in doubt, but the referee eventually allowed the match to go ahead after a 7.15 inspection.

From the outset Tring seemed to be coping with the difficult conditions the better of the two sides. They went close on 8 minutes when Alex Kinsley broke away and struck a fierce shot just over the Witham bar. On 30 minutes Mark Underwood set up another chance for Tring when he broke from his own half and played the ball to Scott Walters on the far side of the penalty area, but Walters' first time shot did not trouble the keeper. Five minutes later Tring had their clearest chance when Kinsley played a one-two with Walters but the keeper saved his shot and the follow-up effort. From the resulting corner Steve Boad's header was saved by the keeper.

The home side had shown little threat but were gifted the lead five minutes before the break. Simon Bartley received a back pass from Steve Harrhy in the boggiest part of his area, and miskicked the clearance straight to Witham's Glen Driver, who rounded the stranded Bartley and slotted into the empty net.

In the second half Tring had by far the bulk of the possession, and most of the game was played in the Witham half. However, they were up against a very disciplined defence, and despite a number of corners and crosses they could not force the ball home, and in truth did not bring a serious save out of the Witham keeper. The second goal arrived on 59 minutes against the run of play. Witham broke quickly and Simon Gray rode a couple of challenges before clipping the ball over the advancing Bartley to give Witham a lead they held until the final whistle.

Team: Bartley, Underwood, Harrhy, Bartlett, Johnson, Boad, Swales, Sangster (Davis), Walters (Armstrong), Kinsley, Beamish.