27/2/01: Ryman League Division Three

A goal three minutes from time was enough for Tring to take all three points in a tight encounter at Hornchurch Stadium last night. There was a different look to the Tring defence with Billy Davies replacing the injured Simon Bartley in goal, and a debut appearance for Brian Johnson. The giant 35-year old ex-Camberley Town defender has been turning out for the reserves all season to add experience to a young side and to regain fitness, but injuries to other defenders meant a step up to the first team.

Defences were on top in a first half of few chances for either side. Johnson was hardly the most mobile player on the field but his positional sense meant he was usually in the right place to see off any danger from a useful-looking Hornchurch attack, and he forged a good understanding at the back with Neal Bartlett and Lee Johnson.

The second half started in a similar fashion, but chances soon began to arrive, mostly for the home side. On 58 minutes Lee Johnson had to clear off the line when Davies miscued a punch under pressure from Paul Creswell. Five minutes later a blocked Tring clearance set up a clear chance for Nick Lowery, but Davies came out to save the shot with his legs.

Tring's first chance came on 66 minutes when Mark Swales turned and shot from six yards out, but the shot was blocked wide. On 81 minutes Tring somehow survived an astonishing sequence of events in their own penalty area. Alan Wood looked certain to score, but Lee Johnson cleared his shot off the line. Richard Whiteman's effort on the rebound was saved by Davies, and a third effort was again cleared off the line by Johnson.

The match looked to be heading for a stalemate until Tring won a corner on 87 minutes. Alex Kinsley's first cross was headed out, but his second effort floated to the far post found the head of Brian Johnson, who capped a fairytale debut with an unstoppable header to put Tring in sight of victory.

Tring held out successfully over the closing minutes, and indeed should have gone further in front in injury time when Swales was clean through, but he went down as he attempted to round the keeper, and the referee refused to point to the penalty spot.

Team: Davies, B.Johnson, Harrhy, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Sangster, Hibbert, Walters (Swales), Kinsley, Beamish.