3/3/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring had to settle for a point from this game, which they had enough to chances to have won in the opening 20 minutes.

Tring looked the livelier of the two sides from the outset, and almost went in front after just two minutes when Abingdon defender Martin Shepherd headed Alex Kinsley's cross only inches wide of his own goal. A minute later Scott Walters' cross found Leon Hibbert in space at the far post, but keeper Jason McLaughlin came out quickly to block Hibbert's shot.

Although Tring were well on top at this stage, on 6 minutes they were caught on the break. Jason Gardener rounded Simon Bartley, but his shot was cleared off the line by Lee Johnson. On 14 minutes Tring went close again when Tony Cook's free kick was turned round the post by McLaughlin, and from the resulting corner the ball dropped for Steve Boad, but he didn't hit the shot cleanly and it was cleared off the line by Scott Hannah. Yet another chance came two minutes later when Steve Harrhy's cross found Kinsley unmarked at the far post, but he shot wide.

Tring paid the price for not taking their chances on 38 minutes. Gardener outpaced Brian Johnson down the right and his cross found Jon Blencowe, who shot home from close range.

Just before the break Kinsley shot wide again from a similar position to his earlier miss, and it looked as though Tring would go into half-time behind, despite playing their best football for some time. However, in the final seconds of the half an equaliser came out of the blue. There seemed little danger when Tony Cook picked the ball up 25 yards from goal, but he surprised everybody by striking a perfect shot which flew into the top corner of the net and left McLaughlin standing.

The second half was a more low-key affair, with few chances falling to either side. Tring's best chance of the match arrived on 75 minutes when Boad ran onto a through pass, but with only McLaughlin to beat he curled his shot over the bar. Soon after Abingdon had their best chance when Gardener's shot after a purposeful run was cleared off the line by Lee Johnson.

In stoppage time Abingdon were reduced to 10 men when defender Luke Beauchamp received his second yellow card for bringing down Tring sub Lee Kelly on the edge of the area, but nothing came of the free kick. Tring could have won it in the dying seconds when a corner dropped for Walters on the edge of the area, but he skied his volley over the bar.

Team: Bartley, B.Johnson, Harrhy (J.Gibson), Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad, Hibbert, Cook, Walters, Kinsley (Kelly), Beamish.