20/3/01: Ryman League Division Three

Tring finally played a match for the first time in two and a half weeks, but even then the elements conspired to make for a highly unpleasant experience. Strong and biting wind along with snow and sleet flurries which turned the surface into a quagmire made for very difficult playing conditions.

Tring took advantage of the conditions to take the lead after just six minutes. Simon Bartley's wind-assisted goal kick was misjudged by a defender, allowing Alex Kinsley to nip in and nod the ball past the keeper before side-footing into the empty net.

Flackwell fought back strongly, and Bartley produced outstanding saves to keep out Jim Baker's close-range shot on 14 minutes and Matthew Flint's overhead kick on 30 minutes.

The turning point of the match came on 35 minutes when Tring had a chance to double their lead. Kinsley was put clean through, but delayed his shot a moment too long and it was saved by the keeper. Instead, Tring were back on level terms three minutes later. Jamie Charles beat the Tring offside trap to find himself with only Bartley to beat, which he did impressively from a narrow angle.

Two minutes later Tring were behind. They had several chances to clear the ball in a goalmouth scramble following a corner, but only got it out as far as the edge of the area where the referee adjudged that Mark Hall had been brought down as he went for the loose ball. Charles took the resulting penalty, and although Bartley guessed right and got a hand to the ball, he could not keep it out.

Tring had the bulk of the possession in the second half, but as the surface became ever more slippery, they found it hard to carve out clear chances. The best chance came in the closing minutes when Antony Beamish got on the end of Neal Bartlett's cross with a header that was cleared off the line by a defender. Flackwell held on for a win that strengthens their position in the top three of the Division Three table.

Team: Bartley, B.Johnson, Groves, Bartlett, L.Johnson, Boad (Underwood), Hibbert (Oliver), Cook, Walters (Sangster), Kinsley, Beamish.